Author's Note: Here is the chapter. The last chapter. The chapter whose song was the inspiration for the entire fic. Truthfully, like way back with Chapter 4, I think the song is better than the chapter, but this is the best I was going to come up with, so I hope you enjoy it :)

Oh, and Scorpius's and Albus's clubbing outfits in the last chapter and Scorpius's outfit in this chapter were all inspired by (but not directly copied from) Kurt Hummel from Glee ;)

-SQ

Disclaimer: Though I did purchase the 1st Harry Potter book in Spanish, I still don't own Harry Potter. Nor do I own the song "Now I Know". Hell, I don't even own the CD anymore; it broke right after I started writing this fic.

Chapter Twelve: Now I Know

Scorpius woke to the feeling of late morning sunshine on his hair and Albus's bare chest beneath his cheek. Eyes still closed, he inhaled the scent of the boy lying beneath him, taking comfort in Albus's solid form. Albus shifted and Scorpius opened his eyes to gaze lovingly into his boyfriend's face.

A face which, instead of the soft lines of adolescence was defined by a mature, masculine jawline dotted with rough morning stubble. Scorpius suddenly found himself wide awake. He was no longer fourteen, he was twenty-three, and Albus had not been his boyfriend for more than six years.

Albus's eyes opened and he blinked up at the blonde above him.

"Interesting position."

Scorpius blushed like the fourteen-year-old he had momentarily forgotten he wasn't and sat up so quickly his head spun.

"I should go," he said, even though every fiber of his being was crying out for him to go back into Albus's arms.

Albus propped himself up on his elbows.

"Why?"

"Look," said Scorpius, standing, "it was really nice of you to bring me back here last night and everything, but I—Ooh."

He clutched his suddenly pounding head, fighting a wave of nausea.

"Easy there," said Albus, taking his elbow and steering him back to the bed. "I thought that might happen. You were quite drunk last night."

"I know," said Scorpius. "I made a fool of myself, getting so pissed drunk I couldn't even see straight."

"I wasn't that sober myself," Albus pointed out. "You alright now?

"Yes, said Scorpius. "And I took advantage of you. I didn't even ask you I just—just—jumped you like some sort of wild animal and I'm sorry, I'm not usually like that. I just...I should go."

He tried to rise again, despite his churning stomach and pounding head, but Albus pulled him back down.

"Took advantage of me?" said Albus incredulously. "Scorpius, I was every bit as much into it as you were."

"You were drunk."

"So were you."

"That doesn't excuse me."

"Now you're not making any sense at all," said Albus. "Did you or didn't you enjoy last night? Because I did, and I don't just mean the sex, though that was a big part of it."

"Of course I enjoyed last night," said Scorpius, rubbing his aching temples. "I'm just sorry I crossed the line."

"Maybe it was a line meant to be crossed." said Albus. He sat up. "You know, I never in a million years thought I'd wake up with you in my bed again."

Scorpius hugged his knees. "When I first woke up I thought for a minute that we were still fourteen, and none of that other stuff had ever happened," he confessed.

Albus nodded in understanding. "Last night I felt like none of it had ever happened, like we'd never been apart from each other. But we're not fourteen anymore, and it has happened, and we were apart."

"I never forgot about you, you know," said Scorpius. "I was always watching you out of the corner of my eye, hoping maybe you were feeling as miserable as I was. But you seemed better off alone."

"Oh Scorp," said Albus, shaking his head. "I was a wreck those last two years at Hogwarts."

Scorpius looked at him, startled. "You were? But you seemed so self-assured!" Then, "You just called me Scorp."

Albus blinked. "I did didn't I? Should I not?"

"No," said Scorpius. "I mean, it's alright if you do. I just haven't heard that nickname from anyone besides Lily in a long time. You were telling me about your seeming self-assurance back at Hogwarts."

"It was all an act," said Albus. "If you want to see self-assurance, look in the mirror. I don't know what happened to you in the last four and a half years, but whatever it was it was good. That's the reason I never tried anything before last night, you were on your own and seemed perfectly content to be so."

Scorpius shrugged. "I was, until you suddenly came back into my life." He considered for a moment. "Or at least I thought I was."

"Mmm?" said Albus questioningly.

"I swore to myself I was over you when I left Hogwarts, and I set out to find someone new, but really I think I was just looking for you the entire time. All of my boyfriends were subconsciously chosen because they reminded me in some way of you."

"Really?" said Albus. I was just the opposite. I knew I still had feelings for you, but I also knew that was over and done with, so I set out to find someone who was the least like you as possible. I never dated another boy after you, only girls who had nothing in common with you. It never worked out though."

"Nothing ever worked out for me either," said Scorpius.

"Last night..." said Albus, licking his lips. "You said..."

"I said a lot of things last night," said Scorpius.

"You told me you loved me."

Scorpius was silent for a minute. "None of my other relationships worked out," he said finally. "And now I know it's because I never truly stopped loving you."

Albus looked up from the bedspread. "Scorp..."

"I understand if you don't feel the same way, Al. It's been a long time."

"Of course I feel the same way," said Albus. "I've always loved you. And you called me Al."

"Everyone calls you Al. And you have?"

"Yes, they do, but you haven't since I was sixteen. And yes, I have always loved you. But we tried this once before and it didn't work."

"So?" said Scorpius. "We're different people now. We can try again. I made the mistake of letting you go once, I'm not going to make it again. Not if you still love me."

"I tried to go after you, you know," said Albus. "That last day at King's Cross. I called out to you, but you had already gone through the barrier."

There was real pain in Scorpius's eyes.

"You did? If I had known I would have come back to you in a heartbeat. I should have never let you go in the first place."

"Maybe it's better this way, though," said Albus thoughtfully. "We've grown up now, and we know what we're getting ourselves into. What we had back at Hogwarts...I wasn't ready for it then."

Scorpius nodded. "Neither was I." He reached out and ran his hands over Albus's muscled chest. "Merlin, you are so much more than I deserve."

Albus put his own hands on Scorpius's shoulders and drew him close to him.

"Nonsense. After what you went through at Hogwarts, you deserve the world. I thought I knew everything about everything back when I was sixteen. But I didn't know anything at all, not even how to hold onto what mattered most."

Scorpius buried his face in Albus's shoulder. "We both thought we knew everything there was to know about the other, but there are so many things I don't know about you, Albus, especially now."

Albus pulled back and brushed Scorpius's long hair out of his face.

"I'll tell you everything you want to know and more. I swear I'm not the ass I used to be."

Scorpius smiled. "I never thought you were an ass."

"Does...does this mean we're together again?" asked Albus tentatively.

"I told you," said Scorpius. "I should never have let you go in the first place, I'm certainly not letting you go a second time. I've had my time to think, more than enough of it, and I love you, Albus Potter. You're the only man I've ever loved. I know that now and want you to know that I know that."

Albus kissed first Scorpius's silky hair and then his pink lips, holding him as though he were going to slip away at any minute.

"Merlin, you don't know how much I've missed this. It was never the same with any girl. Never."

"Not even your fiancé?"

"I told you, said Albus, we were never really in love, Merin and I. It would have been a marriage of convenience"

"Were you ever in love with anyone besides me?" asked Scorpius.

Albus paused for a second. "I think I could have been..." he said slowly. "Once... If I had let myself. But I was too afraid, both for myself and for her."

"Who was it?" asked Scorpius curiously but without resentment. "Rebbecca Matlock?"

Albus snorted. "No. I thought I was in love with her, but she was right, it was just infatuation. No, there was another girl, when I was in my seventh year. She was a fourth year and completely enamored with me. But I didn't let myself get close to her. I didn't want to hurt her. Like I'd hurt you."

Scorpius stroked the tanned skin of Albus's arms gently. "That's all behind us now. It doesn't matter."

Albus bend his head to plant a kiss on Scorpius's shoulder. "Damnit Scorp, it's me who doesn't deserve you."

"We could argue this all day," said Scorpius seductively, "or we could turn to more enjoyable pursuits..."

Albus was tempted, but...

"No, you feel like shit. I know you do, because I do, and you were drunker than me. We need a couple of good potions, a shower, and some breakfast. Then we'll talk."

*****LA*****

And hour later both men were sitting at the kitchen table, nursing mugs of tea. Though still not feeling perfect, the potions and showers had made their hangovers much better and they now felt capable of doing something besides lying in bed all day. Not that the idea wasn't still tempting.

Albus looked at Scorpius, who was wearing his own Gryffindor-colored bathrobe, over the top of his tea mug.

"Those colors don't suit you at all," he said. "You should get dressed."

"I have nothing to wear," said Scorpius pointed out. "My clothes are dirty and smell like alcohol."

"Good point," said Albus. "I'll Apparate over to your place and get you something. I trust you remember the address now?"

Scorpius smirked guiltily. "I might not have tired quite as hard as I might have to remember it last night..."

"Sneaky little Slytherin," said Albus. "Tell me where you live and I'll get you some clothes."

"Okay," said Scorpius. "It's 402 Angleshire Avenue and I'm coming with you, I don't trust your fashion sense enough to pick out my clothes. But why the rush?"

Albus drained his tea and moved to stand behind Scorpius. "Because, with your permission, we're going to make this official," said Albus. "We're going to tell everybody that we're together, and then we're going to find someplace to live."

"Right now?" said Scorpius, eyes going wide.

"What better time than the present?"

Albus kissed the top of Scorpius's head and squeezed his shoulders.

"Let's go then."

They held hands and Apparated into Scorpius's living room.

Albus looked around.

"Nice place. Very stylish."

Scorpius shrugged. "It's okay I guess," he said, secretly and foolishly proud that Albus approved of his flat. "My bedroom is this way."

Scorpius led Albus into the bedroom and opened his closet.

"Wow," said Albus. "You have a lot of clothes."

Scorpius smirked. "Gay prerogative."

He considered for a moment and then selected a white button-up, a tight dark blue hoodie, and a zebra-striped scarf along with a pair of fade-wash skinny jeans.

He took off the bathrobe and put on the clothes while Albus watched in obvious enjoyment.

"I thought your body was absolutely perfect when we were in school, but it's a hundred times better now that it's matured."

Scorpius finished tying his tie and looked up, one eyebrow raised. "You'd have serious issues if you still preferred a fourteen-year-old's body to that of a grown man's"

Albus chucked a pillow at him.

"You know what I mean."

"Hey!" said Scorpius, catching the pillow and setting it gently back on the bed. "That's designer!"

Albus rolled his eyes and stood up. "Well, let's get going. We've got a lot of things to do today." He started toward the door, but Scorpius grabbed his wrist.

"Wait."

"What?"

"If we're going to tell people, we should have something to tell them." He took a deep breath and then lowered himself onto one knee.

Albus looked at him in confusion.

"Scorpius, what—?"

"Albus Potter, will you marry me?"

Albus stared at him, unable to say a word. All the color drained out of his face and he looked like he was going into shock.

"Albus? Al? Say something..."

"I—I—"

"Fuck," said Scorpius. "Now I've just gone and ruined everything like usual, I—"

He was cut off by Albus's lips smashing into his own.

"Yes. Yes! Fucking Merlin, yes!" said Albus. "You really want to marry me?"

"I've never wanted anything more," said Scorpius, breathless from the force of Albus's kiss. "It isn't too fast for you?"

"Too fast?" said Albus. "I've waited nine fucking years to hear those words from you."

He looked into Scorpius silver eyes.

"I can't believe I have you back. I love you so much."

"I love you too," said Scorpius. "You know, this is going to create a scandal in the news though. Most people have forgotten that Albus Potter was in a gay relationship in school. And now all of a sudden he's getting married to another man? Without one word of warning?" he twisted a lock of pale hair around his forefinger. "Maybe we should wait after all..."

Albus shook his head. "First of all, I thought I broke you of that habit ages ago," he said, slapping Scorpius's hand away from his hair. "And second, what's the point in waiting when we both know we want this? You do want this, don't you?"

"I'm the one who asked you, aren't I?" said Scorpius. "But I have one condition before we tell your family."

"Oh? What's that?"

"I have to buy you a ring."

*****LA*****

The Potter/Weasley extended family alone filled half the seats in the outdoor wedding pavilion. The rest were occupied by various friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. Scorpius's father and maternal grandparents sat uneasily near the front, surrounded on all sides by boisterous members of the Potter/Weasley clan.

Behind the grand curtain at the front of the pavilion, Lily was helping her brother make the last minute preparations.

"Come on, Albus, breath," she said. "You look wonderful, Scorpius will be dazzled."

"I'm terrified," Albus admitted. "And I'm not even sure what of. I know he loves me, the bloke tells me sixteen times a day."

"Standard wedding nerves," James assured him. "There'd be something wrong with you if you didn't feel them."

The music started and Lily gave Albus a push toward his mother.

"Go on, it's time."

Albus swallowed, adjusted his tie, and walked through the ivory curtains onto the stage on his mother's arm.

Across from him, at the back of the pavilion, Scorpius was emerging from a matching set of ivory curtains, holding his own mother's arm. As he proceeded up the isle toward the stage, Lily, James, and the other attendants emerged from the sides and made their own way up to the stage. Albus and Scorpius had decided to do it this way rather than have each of them attended individually.

Minerva McGonagall, whom they had chosen to preside over the ceremony, began to read the standard wedding script, but when it came time for the vows she stopped and gestured toward the two young men before her.

"Albus Severus Potter," said Scorpius, speaking first, "you have been my one and only true love since the age of fourteen. You saved my life then, and you have saved it innumerable times since by your simple existence. Your ability to love is astonishing and your willingness to forgive incredible. The six years I spent without you made me realize how empty my life is when you aren't in it. I never want to experience that again. For better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, I love you with every fiber of my being and, if you feel the same, then I, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, take you, Albus Severus Potter, now as my husband, both in the eyes of the law and, more importantly, now and forever in my own heart."

As Scorpius slipped the ring onto his finger Albus felt his heart swell in his throat so that he had trouble speaking his own vows.

"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy," he said hoarsely. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, when I was thirteen I thought you must be the most amazing boy I had ever known. Now I am almost twenty-three, older and wiser, and I know that you are the most amazing man I have ever known or ever will know. The things you have gone through in your life could have turned you into a hard, bitter person, but instead they have only made you more willing to give all of yourself into your life. Not only do I love you, I admire you and respect you and will do everything in my power to make you happy in our life together. I have always loved you and I always will, and that is why, I, Albus Severus Potter, take you, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, as my lawfully and soulfully wedded husband, until death do us part and beyond."

Minerva McGonagall looked at them, and if they had been paying attention they would have seen a tear glistening in her eye. As it was, the only thing they saw was each other as Albus slipped the ring onto Scorpius's finger with trembling hands.

"You may kiss the groom," she said.

Albus did just that, murmuring against Scorpius's inviting lips, "Scorpius Malfoy, you've made me the happiest man alive."

Scorpius wrapped his arms around Albus's neck, deepening the kiss.

"That's impossible," he said when they came up for air.

"Why?"

Scorpius leaned in again so that his lips were brushing Albus's ear.

"Because that position is currently filled by me."

*****Song Lyrics*****

I woke up to see your face again

I woke up to see

you had spent the night again with me.

I never thought we'd be like this again

never thought we'd be,

then you came back to me.

And now I know I should have never let you go

And now I know I've always loved you

And you are so much more than I deserve

I want you to know that now I know.

After all this time you probably felt safer on your own,

but I was never better off alone.

Probably though that I'd forgotten you,

Probably thought that I

couldn't see you out of the corner of my eye.

And now I know I should have never let you go

And now I know I've always loved you

And you are so much more than I deserve

I want you to know that now I know.

I thought that I knew what you wouldn't do

I thought that I knew everything and more

And now I know I should have never let you go

And now I know I've always loved you

And you are so much more than I deserve

I want you to know that now I know.

And now I know I should have never let you go

And now I know I've always loved you

And you are so much more than I deserve

I want you to know that now I know.

AN: Did you like their vows? I'm rather proud of them. And yes, now this fic has officially come to an end. There will not be another sequel; the story that I began with Turn to Gold is finally completed. Our boys have the happy ending they deserve but I simply couldn't see them realistically getting at the end of TTG. That was the whole reason behind this fic; I knew Al and Scorpius had to end up together, but I just couldn't see the end of TTG being the end of it and them living happily ever after from that point.

You know, when I first wrote this story I didn't like it all that much, I mean I did, but I felt it really paled in comparison to TTG, now, going back over it, I actually really like it. TTG will always be first in my heart, but…

Thank you all for reading, and remember, this is your last chance to review!

-SQ