Competition/Challenge Block
Written For: Monthly Challenges for All (Year 6); Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 2.0 (Term 2)

Hogwarts: Slytherin; A3 - Anatomy & Physiology Task #2 (Write about someone receiving unexpected news); Library ((Plot Point) Someone making a wrong assumption.); Case (Doxy [Offspring 1: James Potter/ Blush Pink]);

MC4A: Garden (Hexadic [Kissing]; Service [Cookong]; Gallery [Poly Ship]; Rainbow [Purple]; Redux [Juice]; Trinity [Vegetable]); Fire (Fence Hopper; Eat Me; Loud & Proud); Swap (College Sweater; Polka Dot Pajama Pants; Unicorn Slippers; Black Tea Cup; Flamingo Shaped Mug) Unofficial Swap (Lilypad Pillow; Lime Slice Pillow; Cream & Navy Throw; Pastel Blue Plate, Neon Shorts, Hot Pink Converse, Pink Pinestrip Dress Shirt); Harvest (Set [Night]; R&E [Married; Courting]; Item/Con [Frybread; Yogurt]; Fandom [HPverse]; C&C Types [Autistic]; AU [Cafe/Coffee Shop]; A&B [Dancing; Laughing]); Hunt (Frybread; Polyamory; Kitchen; Herbs/Spices; Blanket); Shop (Blind/Vision Impaired; Islam)

Word Count: 2,518

Warning Tag: References Spiked Beverages, Minor Harassment, Slurs

One Date, Two Dates, Three Dates, More

Year 1.2

.oOo.

I just can't get you out of my head

Boy, your lovin' is all I think about

I just can't get you out of my head

Boy, it's more than I dare to think about

— - Can't Get You Out of My Head by Kylie Minogue

.oOo.

The entire room vibrated from the heavy beat music. The rhythmic sound could be felt in Lily's chest as she settled in a booth seat to rest and rehydrate. Dabbing her sweat-soaked brow with a napkin, she watched the people move and sway on the dance floor, dancing with the colored lights moving hypnotically above them. She fixated on a couple currently shrouded in a soft pink spotlight. The light circled around the two men who appeared to be completely engrossed with one another.

She could easily see James behind Tony, their height difference wasn't too drastic, but it was enough for her to see his eyes sparkling through the circular lenses over Tony's shoulder in the colored lights. He was completely enthralled with Tony as they moved as one. James' hands slid down Tony's arms to rest on his hips, and she observed Tony tilting his head back onto James' shoulder in response, exposing his neckline. She shuddered at the gesture, knowing exactly what he was asking for. James loved to nibble at the spot just below the ear, it was a weak point for her, and based on how Tony appeared to nearly collapse at the intimate marking, it was one of his, too.

Lily only pulled her attention away briefly to dip her deep purple-polished nail into the three ice waters delivered, checking to make sure they weren't spiked. Satisfied with the test (the polish would turn cyan if a suspicious substance was found. There were vile people out there), she took a long, greedy drink before flagging the two over to hydrate themselves. A club was an easy place to get sick in more ways than one, and she was not going to allow her mens' health to be put in jeopardy. It wasn't exactly her top choice for a first date, but Tony suggested a club and it seemed everyone was in a dancing mood.

Someone approached her wearing an assortment of glowstick jewelry, an unbuttoned pink striped dress shirt, and neon shorts to match the hot pink chucks. Lily blatantly ignored him, but he kept inching closer to the point where his junk practically in her face.

"Can I help you?" she asked, leaning away from the sweaty intruder.

"Yeah, why is a smoking hot mocha all alone? I could help rock your world out on the floor."

She looked at him and raised a brow. even in the dim lighting of the club she could tell he was strung out on something.

"No thank you."

"Aww, come on, brown sugar. Just one dance."

He reached for her arm and she quickly smacked it away, using a quiet stinging hex for good measure in the process, the man pulled his hand back in utter surprise before the look in his eye shifted.

"I said no, vile asshole!"

"No need to be so spicy, bitch!"

"There a problem here?" James asked, crossing his arms and standing at his full height.

The man simply glared at her before storming off. The two watched the man carefully until they were satisfied with the gap between them.

"You alright?" Tony asked, concerned.

"Yes. He received quite a nasty smacking, at least." Lily said. "Come sit, hydrate. They're all safe."

James chuckled, knowing what she meant in regards to her stinging hex slap. He may have been on the receiving end of it once or twice in their youth.

Right as James went to slide in next to Lily, his eyes widened and he let out a little yelp when Tony pinched his arse before sitting down across from them. Lily giggled at the exchange while James' sienna skin blushed pink.

"Careful, Tones. Keep flirting with my husband like that and we may just have to take you home," Lily said coyly, taking another sip of water.

Despite Tony's complection being flushed from dancing and the heat out on the floor, his face reddened a shade darker from the comment. James choked on his own water and Lily smirked, pleased with both their responses. She pushed one of the water glasses Tony's way.

"You look parched. Care for a drink?"

Regaining his composure, Tony gave her a dazzling smirk. "Only if it's a tall glass of dark beauty that's you."

"Just for you, my sweet."

Lily blew a kiss from her purple lips and winked coyly back, taking a drink from her own glass and leaving no trace of the lipstick behind. Thank goodness for charms. Tony snagged the glass and took a long drink, Lily and James both watched him intently before he cleared his throat, pulling their attention to him.

"Care for round two?" James asked, sipping at his own water.

Tony responded by flicking his tongue across his upper lip and standing, offering a hand.

Lily could see the desire dripping from his eyes as they all moved back to the dance floor. Lily and James sandwiched Tony between them where they all exchanged their undivided affection for one another.

Tony surprised them during closing of the coffee shop on campus a few days after the three spent a great evening at the club. Naturally the couple were delighted to see him, and almost immediately, James lost all focus on finishing the cleaning and instead sat at a table with Tony talking up a storm while Lily discretely cleaned with magic. She fluffed her curly red hair in the stainless steel reflection of the back counter before joining them.

Tony looked up at her with a sparkle in his eye and that smirk that she'd grown quite fond of she almost forgot to breathe.

"You look famished, darling. May I interest you in a bite to eat?" he asked.

Lily battered her eyes and leaned a hip against James' chair. "I am not sure if I could accept such an enticing invitation from a fancy suit like you without consulting my husband first."

James wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap. She squealed as she mock-fell onto him. He planted a kiss to her cheek and smiled at Tony.

"The husband approves," he said.

"No doubts there, love. The way to your heart is food, after all," Lily said, winking at Tony. "But I don't think he invited you, hmm?"

James pouted at this, sighing. "Well damn, now he knows my secret. And no such offer was made toward me, I'm afraid."

Lily leaned against James, and he nuzzled his nose against her shoulder, allowing Tony to drink in the view.

"Well, that is a shame. I think we will have to decline then, unfortunately."

Tony laughed, amused by their bantering. "A little bird told me there's a good Indian restaurant nearby if you'd both care to join?"

He stood up and fixed his grey jacket, checking his watch. "I've been told they make killer momos and curry."

James and Lily both smiled at him, and they offered out their hands.

"When you put it that way, how could we resist?" James said.

Tony gave them a little bow before accepting Lily's hand, helping her to her feet, and doing the same with James.

Of course, they each curled an arm around Tony's, sandwiching him between them as they headed out the front. Without thinking, James wandlessly waved his hand behind him to shut off the lights, something Tony noticed and turned to look back at the store front while Lily locked the door.

"Something wrong?"

"Huh, never seen that before."

"Seen what?" James asked nervously. "Lights turning off?"

Lily chewed her lip and looked at James pointedly. She had no quick cover up to put out there.

"Fancy place like this I suppose has automatic timers on them," Tony reasoned, scratching the back of his neck.

Lily let out a steady breath, putting on a warm smile. "It's cute how the simplest things like automatic lights fascinate you."

"Sometimes simple can appear the most complex," Tony said, holding out his arm for her to retake. "You two are no exception."

"Is that bad?" she asked, curling her hand in with his again.

The contrast of their skin colors were beautiful.

"Never." Tony motioned for the sleek black Mercedes to pull to the curb, opening the back door for them once it stopped. "Our chariot awaits."

The small mom and pop Indian diner did not disappoint. James even loved the momos and naan, even the pakora appetizer was amazing. It was hard to please James with Indian cuisine, his mother spoiled them regularly with home cooked meals that even Lily couldn't compete with no matter how often she mentored under Mrs. Potter. Though she managed to perfect some signature favourites of his, it came with a lot of help (and she loved it when he cooked with her so he would never have a reason to complain about the end result). Even the plates were wonderfully hand crafted, so much so she would have to ask where she could find a similar set for herself.

They would definitely need to remember this place.

"I must say, you really do know the way to one's heart, Tones," James said.

He leaned heavily back in his chair, stretching his arms out and behind his head while sighing. "Haven't had a good pakora since my grandfather made them. For some reason my mum just couldn't get it quite right."

Lily looked at James inquisitively. "I have that recipe, we should give it a try ourselves sometime."

She could see Tony pop one of the last pakora in his mouth, watching them with what Lily could only describe as heart eyes. This man had fallen head over heels with them, and she was glad she wasn't the only one who had those butterflies. James didn't even try to hide his fondness of Tony, she knew he was sliding his foot up against Tony's leg as they spoke. They had only been on two dates and it was dizzying almost to see how compatible everyone was. If she and James didn't agree on the three date rule before taking those more serious steps already, she knew they would've drug him to the bedroom after the first date.

"Maybe after finals," James said. "Speaking of. Hate to cut this date short, Tony, but we probably should head home. Hell Week is on the horizon and trust me, I am not looking forward to it but it is a thing and it will kill me."

Lily put a hand on James' shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "That's why you have me, dear."

"I think you'll be well taken care of," Tony commented, "I won't shy away from offering pointers, though."

What Lily and James didn't anticipate was Tony really meant what he said.

Lily woke up to the early morning alarm sounding off in the distance. Instinctively she rolled over to shut it off only to smack someone square in the face. He groaned in response, turning away and mumbling something about liking it. It was only then did Lily realize that she wasn't in the bedroom of her and James' flat, but instead she and James were sleeping in their living room. Books were laid out all around the perimeter of a mound of blankets and the lilypad and lime slice-shaped pillows from the couch, and through the sleep and the dim light did she see Tony spooning her husband.

She chuckled at the sight, yawning and stretching out her arms, she carefully got up and maneuvered around the two so she could go turn off the alarm and get her morning going. As she started the shower and grabbed her cap to get her curly hair safely tucked in, Lily realized that they technically broke their three date rule… or did they? Study dates were a thing, after all, right? Or was it an extension of the dinner date?

Whatever.

Technicalities aside, she was certain that James (and herself) won't be able to let Tony go after this. He was just so perfect for them. He was funny, witty, cuddly and affectionate but never handsy or pushy with either of them, respectful, so adorably hot, and smart. The only real problem they had to watch out for was keeping him ignorant of magic. That wouldn't be so hard.

Lily stepped out of the shower and inhaled the fragrance of breakfast wafting through the flat. Dressing quickly in one of James' white and blue college jumpers with matching polka dot pyjamas, she slipped on the baby blue unicorn slippers and jogged down the hall toward the kitchen where James was cooking up a storm. It smelled divine as she approached the breakfast bar where Tony was leisurely sitting on the high-backed barstools. Lily leaned on the counter, collecting the flamingo shaped mug of fresh coffee while she watched her husband hovering over the stove. An assortment of herbs, spices, and peppers were laid out near him, providing one source of the divine smell.

Tony was sipping at a black tea cup full of fresh squeezed orange juice while wrapped in a cream and navy throw blanket, which Lily found amusing.

"Couldn't find the glasses?" she asked.

Tony looked at her and lifted the cup to his lips, purposely sticking out his pinkie finger as he sipped. "I wanted to feel fancy. Do I look fancy?"

James stifled a laugh from nearby, turning to place three plates and some bowls on the counter for them and check Tony out. His hair was a hot mess (just like James, Allah Shiva help her) and eyes were still droopy from sleep, but he looked so cute.

"Definitely fancy, and so cute."

"Oh! Chole bhature! What's the special occasion?" Lily asked, maneuvering around Tony to grab the lassi from the fridge. "Are we going to officially ask Tony out?"

Tony spit out his juice, looking between the two of them. Lily simply gazed over at James, who had to fix his glasses and pick up his jaw off the floor.

"Haven't—uh—we…" James looked at Tony bashfully.

"...aren't official already?" Tony finished. "News to me."

Lily was shocked James didn't drop to a knee and ask to marry him right then. She giggled behind her hand. "I mean… we technically had three dates, and even a sleepover. Seems as good a time as any."

She walked back around Tony, sliding her free hand across the back of his shoulders before leaning on the counter beside him, placing the lassi down and giving him her full attention. James made sure everything was turned off and set aside before doing the same from across from him.

"So, what say you?" James asked, trying to hide his giddiness. "Will you be our number three?"

Something told them that was the best day of all of their lives.