In Albania we are
He had to postpone his studies at the Auror Academy because Lily hasn’t bend about anything yet. It was frustrating. Where did he go wrong?
He has been in love with Lily Evans for the last seven years, chasing after her relentlessly. He had racked his brains to make her happy in their year dating.
He had been his charming self, dedicating every won quidditch game to her, sending flower bouquets right and left. Chocolates? Done, Madame Pudifoot’s? Done, Hearing her rant about everything? Done. No complaints only a lovestruck smile adorning his face all the way.
But she was never satisfied. She criticized him always. How he was not considerate enough, how he didn’t spend enough time with her, then it came their biggest issue right now.
Marriage.
He wanted to marry her straight out of school. A beautiful wedding first and then he’d go to the Auror Academy. Soon, he will be going home to his caring beautiful wife and to a warm meal. And the most important thing, they will be raising by themselves a gaggle of little children running around their beautiful manor in the countryside.
He could picture the beautiful portrait that would be hanging just over the chimney in their living room.
Sadly, up until now, every time he thought about that beautiful portrait the portrait would crash onto the ground in thousands of pieces.
Lily hasn’t accepted yet his marriage proposal, there was no beautiful wife waiting for him at home, no warm meals, and no countryside.
His parents were not over the moon about Lily, thankfully they didn’t care about blood status or it would have been a tough battle. They reluctantly contacted a lowkey potions master in Albania so Lily could apprentice under him. Bujar Shkodra was a kind old potions master in his eighties. He accepted Lily as an apprentice as a favor to his father, Lord Fleamont Potter.
Unfortunately, Lily was not happy with him. She expected to be apprenticed under a young and renowned Potions Master to add to the experience under her name. Sadly, no Master of that standing was impressed by her when she sent her applications. There was also the stigma about muggleborns not learning how to adapt, so precious pureblooded Potions Master also rejected her on that account.
She wanted to hear none of it when he told her that if she was to send a letter as Heir Consort Lily Potter née Evans, she would be taken more seriously than if she just sent it as Lily Evans.
He didn’t understand why she was being so stubborn about this. She was a no name muggleborn that was living and getting her mastery done out of his goodwill to show her how he would be a good husband.
Now, for that stubbornness, they were stuck in this shitty apartment in Albania. Although it was clean and perfectly put for them by his parents’ order, he wanted to be enjoying at his leisure in his grandiose room in Potter Mannor.
Why was it that he had to endure all of it just so she accepted marrying him? Was he really not enough? Was the promise of the Potter Ladyship not enough for her to commit to him? What was she waiting for?
He didn’t understand why she was so cold, even if he understood that she has weird views inherited from the muggle world, why was she really like that?
In that moment, Lily, his beautiful Lily-flower came into the room. She was wearing a too short flowery white dress for the summer. Something he also didn’t like about Albania; it was so hot all the time, at least hotter that England. She had her hair tied up in a ponytail that looked messy, and she was carrying a letter in her hand.
- James, can you believe it? – She was angry now, why was it that her scowling facer was more common than her smile these days he couldn’t understand.
- What is it, love? – He put all his attention in her face.
- My sister Petunia is what is wrong! – she was fuming now. The poor letter was now left rumpled in the coffee table of their small living room.
- What did she say this time? Did she upset you? – He could feel his anger rising at the thought.
- She didn’t say anything! My mother sent me an invitation to her wedding! That’s what is happening! – he felt himself deflating at hearing that, why was she mad again?
- Oh, Love, if you didn’t want your sister to get married before you, you should have said it! – he answered playfully because he couldn’t pinpoint where the issue was.
- What are you talking about, you dork?! – wow, he had managed to infuriate her more. He preferred to keep quiet this time, better not to fuck it up more.
- My stupid sister Petunia is getting married without getting a degree. She could have gone to study I’m sure, but no she preferred to go and be a, be a… - she seemed to want to turn a shade of red that could rival her hair – a Housewife! Now, she is going to depend on that man for her lifetime!
- I don’t see what’s wrong with it – he whispered.
- What did you just said, James Potter? Could you be any more clueless? – She shouted at him - How can you not understand what I mean? Why are you always such a retrograde, imbecile man? - She wouldn't stop and he…
He lost it.
- You will not shout at me and you will not disrespect me so! – he said in the graver voice he could muster.
Lily was not expecting that reaction at all. She had never seen James like that.
- You rant about women depending on their men, about women having to go to college or whatnot, about getting a mastery and not marrying and all that stuff that you preach – he made a stop to look around their apartment – but tell me now, Lily, who is paying for the roof over your head? Is not me that is paying for your mastery? Is it not my family that got you that apprenticeship that seems to bother you so much? At least your sister has the decency to marry the man that provides for her! – he almost growled the last part.
He was done. No more games. He was still the proud son of the Noble House of Potter. He was not meant to be a man to be trampled on and he will never be. Not even by Lily.
- I’ve given you all you wanted, now it is time for you to pay. If you do not accept to become my wife, then I will treat you as any other woman, there will be no mastery, no apartment, no money and obviously not me.
The silence that reigned in the house was deafening and Lily’s heart was pounding in her chest. She saw how her normally adorable and puppylike boyfriend morphed his expression until only fire, hurt and determination where left.
She was even more horrified when the angry face twisted its mouth into a malicious smirk before saying:
“Well, if you want, you can become my mistress too. I always pictured you as my wife, but I guess we can only accept what we think we are worthy of”