Restricted

Chapter 6. Smooth Talker

"Lilith!"

Madeline's eyes adjusted to the pitch black darkness of her room to see Jolie leaning over her with a grin, holding both of her shoulders as she shook her.

"Lilith!" Jolie laughed.

Madeline partially sat up and rubbed the dark circles that would definitely be seen if the sconces was lit.

After dinner that night, she had been so exhausted from her first week of classes that she'd hopped straight into bed.

When she opened her eyes, Jolie was still standing over her with her arms crossed with a prideful smirk.

"Well, look at this role reversal," her roommate hummed. "Waking you up for a change."

Before Madeline could register the irony, Jolie was already pulling down her duvet, nearly making her roll right out of the cocoon she'd nestled in.

"What—?"

"Come on! We're going to have a smoke. Everyone is waiting on us—"

"Smoke what?" Madeline replied lazily, trying to determine if she was still dreaming.

Madeline stretched and sat up, swinging her legs over the end of her bed right in front of her roommate.

"Just a fag or two. Let's go," Jolie laughed as she yanked her arm up.

Madeline glanced between herself and Jolie, finding that they were both still in their pyjamas. She supposed her bunny slippers would be acceptable attire to match.

As Madeline slid on her slippers, her friend was already partially out the door.

"Don't forget your blanket!" Jolie called.

Madeline glanced back at the once warm and cosy blanket, now in a lumpy pile at the foot of her bed.

"What for?"

"It's a bit nippy out," she said back.

Madeline followed Jolie through the corridor and common room with her blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

Although Madeline didn't know what time it was, the common room was surprisingly empty for a Saturday night.

As Madeline tried to peer at the clock on the mantle, she was thwarted by Jolie tugging her arm toward the exit. She allowed herself to be pulled out into the corridor. When the girls exited the common room's passageway, Madeline saw that everyone was, indeed, waiting on them.

Pansy, Draco, Blaise, Theo, and Daphne were all huddled beside an alcove.

Draco seemed relieved to see them, holding what looked to be Jolie's own blanket and pillow. He huffily returned both to her as they got closer.

"About time," Draco muttered.

"Don't mind him," Theo laughed, reaching out to mockingly pat Draco's white blonde hair. "He's just grumpy that I walked in on his and Pans' snogging—"

"Quit," Draco spat, swatting Theo's hand away.

Daphne looked more welcoming of Madeline's arrival, grinning broadly as she rocked back and forth with her blanket tucked over her head. She looked like a Muggle interpretation of a ghost with a fuzzy pink body and rosy, smiling face.

"Won't we get in trouble for this?" Madeline asked, yawning.

Jolie waved a dismissive hand over her clump of pillow and shook her head.

"It technically isn't curfew yet for Theo, so we'll be fine," Daphne replied, giggling.

After carefully sneaking through the castle's many floors, and ardently avoiding Peeves, Mr Filch, and someone called 'Mrs Norris', the group arrived at the Astronomy Tower.