Delirium

Chapter 3 - House Pride

a/n hi! welcome to the new update day!

hope you guys are settled in. this one's kinda long.

also—if you did not read the prologue, what are you doing literally go read it rn. you're missing out on so much context :)

song suggestions:
How to Be a Heartbreaker - MARINA
505 - Arctic Monkeys

~*~

In the small private prefect's dorm that was originally meant for just one student, Jolie sat on the floor in front of Madeline's trunk, rifling through her new roommate's things whilst Madeline sat at the end of her bed and watched.

The room was admittedly a bit cramped for two people and a cat, but it wasn't enough to cause any issues.

Both twin-size beds were pushed against both corners of the room, Jolie's on the left, Madeline's on the right. There was still only room for one desk so that sat in between the beds, facing the underwater window. At the far end of the room, two wardrobes were pushed together. Beside them was the door to their private bathroom, Jolie's personal favourite part of the room, as there was more than an ample amount of counter space for the both of them.

When the girls had first entered the dorm, Jolie took the time to introduce Madeline to her cat, Tea Kettle. Then, after checking on her ant farm and giving Tea Kettle's ears a scratch, Jolie had pulled out a vinyl from the stack she'd brought and placed the needle of her magical gramophone (a birthday gift from her parents) onto the edge of the disc. Giving the lever a crank, soft notes of a band called 'Radiohead' had begun to pour out.  

Now, as she rummaged in Madeline's trunk, Jolie tossed another option for Madeline to wear to the party onto the witch's bed, her eyebrows raising.

"I'll admit—I'm somewhat surprised," Jolie blew out a breath. "I didn't expect you to have so many cute clothes."

Madeline raised a dark eyebrow. "Thought I'd packed burlap sacks, did you?"

Jolie laughed, shaking her head. "No, no. Just... How did you keep up with the trends? Being homeschooled?"

"You know the woman I told you about? On the train?"

Jolie nodded, remembering the 'grandmother-figure' she'd mentioned.

"Well, she's actually very stylish," Madeline explained. "Reads all sorts of fashion magazines and the like. Luckily for me, she has a tendency to want to take me shopping."

Jolie hummed in agreement as she pulled a fitted black velvet mini-dress out of Madeline's trunk. Lucky for her, indeed.

She tossed that option to Madeline as well.

"So," Jolie began as she continued to dig through the clothing, "Theo said something about you taking Advanced Potions. Is that right?"

Madeline nodded absentmindedly as she folded the black dress on her lap.

"Does that mean you'll be in sixth, or seventh year Potions?" Jolie asked.

"Oh, sixth. Though, I reckon I could take seventh."

Jolie felt one of her own eyebrows raise now.

"Cocky, are we?"

Madeline swiftly began to shake her head and Jolie smiled.

"Only joking," Jolie laughed. "If you're in sixth, we should be partners. I'm in the same lesson."

"Really?" Madeline gasped. "That would be perfect. I was afraid I wouldn't know anyone."