Chapter five was 'The Engagement'

Race to Beat the Weasleys – Chapter Six

The Relationship Grows

While Feriel had joked about going to tell Matt all about their date, Harry wanted to keep the details to himself. Consequently he had to deal with an utterly frustrating Aussie for weeks afterwards, constantly pestering him for details. Matt finally relented when Harry retorted his latest question with "You know, Matt, someone might confuse you with Kiara one day. What with the way you are digging for juicy gossip and all!" He had to laugh at the look of complete indignation that crossed Matt's face at the comment as he promptly closed his mouth and walked out of the room.

This unfortunately didn't stop anyone else from bothering him about it. Though all their questions were quickly answered once Feriel turned up to a party about a month later; she made her way immediately over to Harry at the bar. Their friends soon filled the pub with whistles and shouts as Feriel greeted him with a passionate kiss; wrapping her arms around his neck, causing him to lose himself in her taste and pull her flush against him.

"Hello gorgeous." Murmured Feriel, when they came up for air; completely oblivious to their boisterous friends that surrounded them.

"Hey yourself. What prompted that greeting?" He asked, curious, still holding her close and tight. "Not that I'm complaining, mind. Just curious; you never appreciated the whole PDA thing before." He grinned as she scrunched up her nose at the PDA comment, then smiled broadly at him, her whole face lighting up.

"I just got promoted!" She answered happily.

"Which job?" Harry had to know. Feriel was well known to have numerous occupations on the go at any one time.

"Actually, it's not a promotion 'per se'. More like a dream come true…" She trailed off, looking dreamy. This had Harry slightly nervous. She had never been one to swoon or any of that 'stupid girly stuff' as she liked to put it. He shook her gently when it looked like she wasn't going to come out of her trance anytime soon. "And…" he prompted, when she looked back at him.

"Oh! Sorry 'bout that! Um … Yes. You know I love to take photos anything and everything, right?" Harry nodded. Boy did he ever! Though they had only been dating for a few weeks, she had already taken more photos of them on their dates than anyone he had ever met, which was saying something. He and Ron had discovered Hermione's infatuation with muggle photography sometime in their 4th year. He had albums full of photos that she had taken since then. Even more once she had learned the process on how to make them into wizarding photos. Sheesh the woman was completely snap happy!

"Well," Feriel continued, unaware of Harry's inner reminiscing. "I took some of my work into a few of the nature mags offices. You are looking at the newest official photographer for the Australian branch of the National Geographic Magazine!!" She was squirming with joy as she delivered her news, and Harry found that he had to release his hold on her slightly, to give him (and other parts of his anatomy) space to 'breathe'.

"Congratulations!! That's great to hear, I know how much you love your camera." Harry smiled at her exuberance about her newest job, thinking how stunning she looked with her face alight with happiness, and her blue eyes twinkling with excitement. On impulse Harry kissed her on the nose, making her giggle softly. He grinned down at her, watching as her eyes twinkled even more, then darkened slightly as Harry leaned in to kiss her properly.

Later that night, once the two of them had had enough of the loud music and ever expanding cloud of cigarette smoke, they retreated to Feriel's place. They curled up on the couch together, jazz music playing softly in the background. They chatted quietly for a while, before lapsing into comfortable silence, dozing lightly.

"Harry?" Feriel whispered when she thought he was asleep.

"Mmm?" came the very sleepy answer, telling Feriel that he was barely awake and functioning.

"… I … Never mind." She murmured, and snuggled closer to Harry's warmth, closing her eyes and listening to his heart beat.

"Mm, Ok." Yawned Harry, and he wrapped his arms more firmly around her, before falling asleep properly.

"I love you, Harry Potter." Feriel said softly. She was sure that he wouldn't hear her, before falling asleep herself.

As always when he woke up at Feriel's place, Harry blinked stupidly for a few seconds before remembering where he was. He yawned and cuddled into the warmth that was his sound asleep girlfriend by his side on the living room couch. His head tucked into her shoulder, he breathed in her unique scent and smiled, content. He suddenly frowned when he finally remembered something that Feriel had said as he was falling asleep. I love you, Harry Potter.

Surely he had been dreaming? He had realised his own feelings only a week before, and they had scared him. Who fell in love in less than a month? His mind was in chaos with the thought of what would happen if he admitted his own feelings.

Lying there with his girl in his arms, Harry thought back on the last few weeks, and realised that he had never been happier or more comfortable within himself. He wanted to wake up every morning; he was excited at the prospects and promises that every day promised. He had a much more positive outlook on his life in general since he had come to Australia, and met his new friends and of course, Feriel.

Feriel. The main reason for his new lease on life. Everything else around him ceased to exist when she walked into a room, or when they spent time together. It had even gone so far that Matt would call Feriel when Harry was in a bad or depressed mood and Harry's entire demeanor would change the instant he heard her voice. He couldn't imagine ever being without her, and he knew that he loved her with all his soul. What had really worried him was that he would scare her off if he admitted it to her. This revelation by her, albeit with the thought that he was asleep, was all he needed to get that last bit of courage to tell her.

As Harry came to this conclusion, he felt the girl, woman Harry told himself, on his chest begin to wake. She smiled up at him in her sleepy state, and he couldn't help but kiss her tenderly. She hummed in contentment as she slid her hand up his chest to cradle his cheek. Harry himself moaned softly as he drank in her wonderfully sleepy kiss, which soon strayed from gentle and tender, to hard and passionate. Harry pulled her firmly against him as he devoured her mouth, one hand sliding under the back of her top to caress her skin.

Feriel broke the kiss, breathing hard. Her hands grabbed the bottom hem of her t-shirt and wrenched it over her head, immediately covering Harry's mouth with her own before it even hit the floor. Harry lost himself in her scorching kisses, arching under her touch as she began to flip open the buttons on his shirt before sliding her hands over his chest, caressing his nipples teasingly.

"Wait…" He managed to gasp, holding her close, but still wanting to make sure of something. "Are you sure? You said you didn't want to til you wer-" He was silenced with another distracting kiss.

She assuaged his fears. "You are the one. Don't need a ring to tell me that. Now shut up and feel!" She pulled herself off the couch, onto the floor, and dragged Harry with her.

"Oomph!" Harry squashed the air from both their lungs as he toppled down on top of her. A moment later they were both laughing breathlessly, before resuming their frantic stripping of each other. Very quickly, they were both bare, and Harry was kissing his way down her body, tonguing her navel before continuing southwards.

"Fuck! Harry…" Feriel gasped and arched her back, tangling her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer.

Harry smiled against her wet heat, marveling at how freely she expressed her desire, for someone who had had no other experience other than her own self, and now him. This though caused a surge of animal male possessiveness to course through him, and he doubled his efforts to take her over the edge.

Suddenly Feriel let out a high keening noise, closely followed by an animal sounding groan. Her head tipped back, her back arched, and her thighs clamped themselves tightly around Harry's head, holding him close as pleasure swamped her body.

Harry cradled her thighs in his hands until he felt her muscles relax and release his head. Immediately he looked up at her face, rosy cheeked with passion and the heat that had built between them. Still gasping, Feriel managed, "Wow!" before letting her head fall back on the floor, basking in the afterglow and catching her breath.

Harry could not hold himself back any longer, and the rest of the night was mostly a blur, except for the horrible moment when he finally claimed her body with his own and she seemed to be in so much pain that he wanted to forget the act entirely. She had tearfully begged him to continued, moving her own body against his when he did not move. After that all he could do was give in to his instincts and bury himself in her over and over again, climbing to his peak and crashing over the edge, before slumping over her spread-eagled form, gasping for air and burning up from the inside.

She held him as he struggled to even his breathing, threading her fingers through his sweat soaked hair, and whispering softly to him. Soon, Harry found his breath again, and lifted his head and upper body to look at her, smiling tiredly at her, his eyes glowing from their emerald depths. Too sleepy to check his mouth as it spoke without his permission, Harry whispered softly against her lips, "I love you, Feriel." Before kissing her slowly and tenderly, telling her through his lips just how much he cared for her.

When he released her mouth, she grinned at him like a cheshire cat, her eyes glowing with happiness. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly to her sweaty skin, her face buried in his shoulder. As she released him, she murmured her love again into his ear, nibbling on his earlobe slightly before releasing him completely.

Feriel wriggled out from under Harry, and stood, legs wobbling, holding her hand out to help him up from the floor. Then together and naked as the day they were born, they moved to her bedroom to continue to show each other just how much they loved one another.

Authors Note:

Thanks to Irique for being the first to review for me. And I am Australian, I'm like you, I like to be able to imagine them somewhere familiar to me! Thanks for your support!

And the usual waffle:

Nothing but the story (and original characters) are mine. My bank account doesn't have that many zeros!

I love reviews, flames are only appreciated if it is constructive criticism, if not, I don't want to hear it!!

Thanks!