OK guys, this is it! this is the end of a fic I started almost a decade ago. I'm not really sure how I found this again- or even how I got access to my old account, but this has been a cute little quarantine project for me. I know I'm not exactly the best writer, and not everyone likes slow meandering stories with no immediate drama or dark wizard battles, but I hope my little inter-personal diddies were at least somewhat entertaining or gave you 30 mins where you didn't think about the shit show that is the outside world.

Have a great 2021, guys! Xoxo HLW.

"You sure you're ready for this, because if it's too much we can just go back to the apartment and order Chinese food." Albus shook his head,

"We only have a few days left before you go on tour, so if we don't do this now we'll have to wait about four months and I really don't want to do that." Scorpius smirked beside him,

"So eager to gloat about a Potter finally bagging a Malfoy? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were goading your father". A sly smile crossed the smaller man's face, if his father happened to see them and also happened to lament the total cock up he'd made then who was Albus to argue? He was slightly nervous about seeing his brother and sister again though- he wasn't sure what they had been told or how they were going to respond to him.

"If I just so happen to wear you on my arm like an exceedingly expensive watch, is that really the worst thing?" A kiss was placed against his cheek at the pair prepared to enter the gala,

"Not the worst thing, no. I am rather spectacular". Entering the function, Albus linked his arm around Scorpius' and was led to the centre of the dance floor where he was pulled flush against the man of his dreams. He could hear people talking about them, about the trial and him being estranged from the rest of the Potter clan, but Al didn't really care – he just sighed contently as Scorpius pulled him up into a kiss; but all good things must come to an end and a tap on his arm caught his attention.

"Mind if I cut in?" It was Hugo, who smiled and extended a hand to Albus, Scorpius nodded in response,

"Sure – I'll be making the rounds."

"A little weird asking your own brother to dance, but who am I to judge?" Hugo rolled his eyes,

"Shove it, you know I didn't want to dance with you – I just wanted to ask if you were alright." Al shrugged,

"It's been a year, why are you asking now?" Al was ushered over to a slightly more secluded alcove off to the side of the event,

"Don't be a prat, Al – this past year and a half has been shite for all of us. The amount of arguments we've been put in the middle of, mum screaming at dad, dad telling mum he wished he would've left years ago when he had the chance – Ron's drinking problem, crippling debt and likely divorce – it's been like herding cats from one shitshow to another." Albus regarded his brother, he looked so tired – so over the whole mess.

"Sounds tough, couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch". A hand found it way to Al's shoulder and Hugo squoze it affectionately,

"For what it's worth, Lilly and I were tried to stick up for you as much as we could, and we're happy that you made it out alive. I know it doesn't excuse…"

"Too right it doesn't. Too busy to send an owl, a missive, a howler, Anything?"

"Hey now, this works two ways you know. You thought it was best to stay away and we thought it was best to give you your space. Mum and dad are not in a great place right now; mum cries just about every day, dad is never home and Ron drinks his body weight in fire whiskey every other night and screams about the injustice of it all. This has been a clusterfuck for everyone, Al. If anything you saved yourself a whole lot of hassle by picking him." An awkward silence settled over the two as Al searched for the words he wanted to say, "Ohh, and for what it's worth- I approve by the way. Of you and him, we all do, even Hugo!" Al snorted,

"Sure."

"No, seriously. I think the trial really opened his eyes to the damage he'd caused and all the crap dad and Ron pulled made him realise maybe his heroes weren't such great people after all." Al's eyes wandered the room, seeking the family he once had. Sure enough they all sat at one table, Ginny and Harry awkwardly avoiding one another, whilst sat next to each other, Hugo over the very opposite side of the table speaking to Lilly and Ron drinking out of a cup and looking redder than a baboons ass. Hermione, for her part, was nowhere near the table which was probably a perfect reflection of the state of their marriage.

"Well, I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than come over to the table but if you wanted to come over sometime for a drink or just to catch up I'm just an owl away." Hugo nodded and pulled his brother into a tight hug,

"I'm so proud of you, you little shit." Several seconds later, Al felt a familiar hand on his lower back

"Going to have to steal my boyfriend back before that old creep from magical real estate gets any ideas." Hugo nodded and stepped away as Scorp kissed his boyfriend on the cheek,

"Scorpius." Hugo added with a nod, "I'll leave you guys to it, All – I'll be seeing you soon!" Scorpius drew Al in and held him close, music strumming lightly in the background.

"You know every time I tough you, your father looks like he's about to have an aneurism." Al snorted,

"So maybe you should touch me some more…" Scorpius hummed and kissed Albus deeply,

"I know it took us a while to get here, but I'm so happy that we can finally be together. Fuck what they think." Albus risked a glance over at the Potter table where, as promised, Harry, Ron and Ginny all looked beyond miserable. Al simply smiled and waved at them before retreating back into Scorpius' embrace and resting his head in the crook of the taller man's neck,

"Don't really care. I won in the end. I got the Malfoy." A soft chuckle escaped Scorpius' lips,

"That you did… And I got the only eligible Potter."