Pompous | A Percy Weasley Fanfiction

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"Excuse me." Lily gulped, getting up before hurriedly running out of the Great Hall, trying to outrun her tears as she went to one of the places she felt the safest.

Terrence rose up to go after the girl but Oliver stopped him.

"I think this is a job for her best friend, mate." he stood up.

The Slytherin nodded hesitantly as he watched the brunette jog out of the room, right behind the girl in the emerald dress.

It had been almost twenty minutes since she had been up on Gryffindor Tower's roof, and Lily was nowhere close to feeling any better. The image kept reeling itself through her mind, and it physically hurt to think of Percy being with anyone who wasn't her.

"Feeling down?" Oliver's head poked out of his dorm window and Lily's head shot up.

"Livvie? What're you doing here?" she asked through her tear-stained cheeks.

"Helping a friend in need, obviously. You look like a mess." he frowned, looking her over. "Oh, and take this." he tossed her a brown jacket. "It's Lee's. You're going to freeze to death. Honestly woman, who sits on a rooftop in a freaking ball gown?" he asked.

Lily cracked a small yet sad smile as she put on the coat. "Thank you Livvie." she said, before turning back to looking in the distance.

She felt Oliver wrap his arms around in comfort as she leaned into his chest, silent tears escaping her eyes.

"Custard creams?" he offered her a bag of candy. "I know they're your favourite."

"How did even get out of the castle? I thought dad was guarding the entrances."

"Oh he was." the boy grinned cheekily. "But Fred and George have more tricks up their sleeve than you'd think." he winked. "Even managed to get myself some Cockroach Clusters."

"As if Honeydukes is ever going to run out of them." Lily scoffed. "You are the only person I know who actually likes those things." she sighed, putting some candy into her mouth. "Regardless, thank you Livvie." she pouted, nesting herself deeper into his warm embrace.

"Are you going to talk now?"

Lily let out a deep sigh. "Might as well. No point in beating around the bush, right?" she said unamusedly. "You know, it started just last year, when I spent the last week of summer at the Burrow. I had a muggle newspaper in my bag and Percy was so excited about solving the crossword... it just sort of happened. You probably think I'm being stupid, don't you?"

"Not one bit." he said firmly. "Continue, please."

"Well, as time went on by, it sort of turned into something else entirely. I – I don't know, it's not a crush anymore. It literally feels like someone's stabbing my heart over and over again every time I think of them together." as soon as the words left her mouth, she burst into tears. "Why would he agree to go with Penny, Livvie? Is it because she's all girly and definitely Ravenclaw prefect-material? I can't blame him. She's pretty, she's smart, and as much as I hate to admit it, she's one of the kindest people ever! It's so hard to hate someone like her! Why would he ever choose some Quidditch-playing nimrod like me, right?"

Oliver rubbed her back soothingly, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. "Stop it. You're beautiful, okay? I mean, look at you right now Carrots, you look absolutely stunning. Besides, you're the best Potions student in our year, maybe even DADA, and certainly the best lady-flyer I've ever met. Don't compare yourself to her, please." he squeezed her tight.

"I can't help it. I – I love him Livvie. And I hate that he doesn't even have a clue." she continued crying. Once she'd said the words out loud, she let go of his grasp, trying to process what she'd just admitted to.