The long house tables of the Great Hall had been cleared away. Along the edges of the room were stands where families were packed in shoulder to shoulder, leaving a long aisle in the center for the Hogwarts graduates. They sat in rows according to their houses, and at the top of the stands, Draco Malfoy sat among the Potters and Weasleys and Grangers - right in the middle between Harry and Bill Weasley. Being with them back at Hogwarts gave Draco the most twisted sense of deja vu - except this time, he wasn't at the Slytherin table participating in the idle chatter of the wealthy and bored.

The Slytherin girls were walking across the stage, and Draco looked down at Scorpius. He was easy to spot in the sea of black robes - his white-blonde hair stood out amongst the crowd, and Draco wondered if Lucius would have looked down to find him at his graduation all those years ago if the castle hadn't been destroyed.

"I can't believe they're graduating," Bill said for the millionth time as Molly dabbed tears from her eyes. She'd been crying since the Gryffindors had lined up - long before Rose's name had even been called.

Since Draco had arrived and joined them, they'd been sharing stories of Albus and Rose's youth - how much they'd grown and changed - and even though he was quite pleased Dania had decided to accompany him, Draco was feeling Astoria's absence once again.

You'd be so proud of our boy, Draco thought.

The Slytherin boys stood up and got in line as their classmates accepted their diplomas from Professor McGonagall. He watched as Scorpius helped Albus into line, surrounded by their roommates and thought of his own graduation - or lack thereof.

A mailed diploma with a Hogwarts seal and a small, tasteless cake his mother made by hand.

"I'm very grateful," Draco said, controlled, "that he had a different Hogwarts experience than I did. That he's getting a real graduation."

"The diploma in my office is honorary," Harry said, relaxing back against the wall with this arms folded. "At least yours is real."

In front of them, Dania turned around and smiled, seated between Hermione and Ainsley, who was chatting with Hugo about what they'd do after their graduation.

"Are they happy to be done?"

"I think so," said Harry. "I know the last couple years weren't too bad, but the first ones weren't the best for Albus and Scorpius. You know what they say about first impressions."

Draco smiled, watching as Albus rested his head against Scorpius' shoulder while they waited. He saw Scorpius smile, and when he turned his head to look around for his family, Draco waved.

"He's such a nice boy," said Molly, also waving to him. Arthur raised his hand enthusiastically and Albus laughed at them.

"They're both nice boys," Ainsley said as James convinced Hugo to switch seats with him.

Harry and Ginny sat up straight, holding each other's hands tightly as Farley crossed the stage. Scorpius was standing on the steps behind Flint, and even from a distance, Draco could see his grin. When his Flint's name was called, they exchanged words and Scorpius and Albus both threw their heads back in laughter.

Below them amongst the spectators, Flint's family cheered, and for the briefest of moments, Draco was scared - scared that it would be only him clapping for his son and that his mother's absence would be even more noticeable. He remembered cleaning the paint off of Scorpius' trunk when he came home after his second year and the tearful tales he'd told Astoria of what students had called him.

He needn't have worried. When McGonagall called Scorpius Malfoy's name, the entire Potter-Weasley-Granger family stood up with him and cheered - a deafening roar that joined polite applause in echoing around the room. There were so many of them - the largest family in the room, and they cheered for his son like he was one of their own.

As he reached Professor McGonagall, Draco saw Scorpius look up to where they sat and he grinned - the big, broad, bright grin Draco remembered from when Scorpius was a child and would discover something new. It was the way he'd looked when he'd learned to read and when he experienced something for the first time. He received a handshake from McGonagall and she kept him there a moment longer than the others before giving him a pat on his shoulder with his diploma, and Scorpius walked to the other end of the stage.

Unlike the others, he didn't step down to rejoin his classmates. He stood at the edge near the stairs and waited, grinning up at his dad and the family he'd gotten so close to as they cheered for Albus.

Albus walked toward McGonagall - slower than the others, but more steady than he'd been - and received his diploma with a few extra words from the headmistress.

Draco and Harry watched, side by side, as Albus met Scorpius at the edge of the stairs and together the stepped down, leaning on each other.

"I'm not sure that it's my place to be proud of Albus," Draco admitted, "but I'm very proud of them both."

"I am too," Harry told him, and they exchanged sideways smile. "I think they'll be alright."


Albus and Scorpius waited out on the lawn for their families with Flint, who was gleefully carrying Maggie around on his back.

"It's over!" said Flint.

"We didn't win the cup like we wanted, though," Albus said, a bit melancholy. Scorpius took his hand.

"It's alright, mate," said Flint.

"At least it went to Gryffindor and not Hufflepuff," Maggie said brightly. "I haven't forgiven them for what Marcus did."

"Hey," cried Ainsley, approaching at a jog. "Don't be talking bad about Hufflepuff."

Scorpius released Albus as Ainsley threw her arms around his neck, and he lifted her off the ground for a moment, smiling and hugging her tight.

"Thanks for being here," he said as he set her on the ground.

"Where else would I be?"

Ainsley smiled up at him, and Scorpius was wholeheartedly grateful that she had become a part of his family. He watched as his father approached with the Potters, Weasleys, and Grangers, Rose in tow with her diploma. Hermione held her daughter's sash - the one that indicated she'd come in second in her class - appraising it.

"It's not the end of the world, Rose," Hermione said. "You're still brilliant."

The disgruntled look on Rose's face told Scorpius she was clearly not of the same opinion.

As Draco congratulated and hugged his son tightly, Scorpius looked at all of them - Albus and Ainsley and Harry and Ginny - their family and friends as they embraced and kissed each other, and when Draco released him they drew him in too, hugging him and kissing him like he was one of their own.

He was scared, he realized, as Molly Weasley hugged him and patted his cheek, telling him how proud she was. He was afraid that someday - tomorrow, or some day in the future - things with Albus might not work out and that he'd not only lose his boyfriend and best friend - he'd lose this family that he'd grown to love all in the same breath.

Scorpius turned and saw Draco standing with his hands on Albus' shoulders and Albus was no longer grinning. Scorpius released Charlie Weasley's handshake and moved to approach them, but Ginny grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Let them talk," she said gently.

"Is something wrong?"

Ginny shook her head, looking up at him and smiling so warmly that Scorpius thought if his mother couldn't be there, Mrs. Potter was the next best thing.

"Harry and I have spent some time with your father over this last semester," Ginny said. "I don't think I realized it before, but Draco and Albus - they have a unique bond now."

Scorpius looked back over to them just as Albus pulled Draco into a tight hug - one that Draco clearly hadn't anticipated, but he reciprocated after a moment, patting Albus on the back.

As Rose gave him a friendly nudge, passing by in the cluster of her family, Scorpius looked down at Ginny. He was much taller than her now, but the fierce affection she looked at her family - and now him - with made him feel very small indeed.

"Because of me?"

Ginny smiled and nodded, drawing Scorpius down into a warm, gentle hug that she held for a long time.

"Because of you."


The boys' dorm was a mess, and Albus couldn't find half of his clothes.

"I'm short a shoe," he called to Scorpius, who promptly crouched down to look under the bed.

"Seriously, Al?" Scorpius said, emerging with Albus' missing dress shoe and his tie.

Albus grinned. "Thanks."

Scorpius shook his head in mock annoyance, but broke into a smile. Albus was staring at him with a soft expression - the kind he wore when he was remembering something.

"What?"

"Nothing, really," Albus said. "We've spent seven years in this place and this is the last night we'll be here."

"Good riddance," said Pucey, emerging from the bathroom in his dress robes. "You two are going to be late."

"We spent too long with my family," Albus said. "They like to talk."

"And hug," supplemented Scorpius. "They hug a lot."

Pucey laughed and tossed his uniform in his trunk unceremoniously, slamming the lid shut.

"See you downstairs?"

"We'll be there in a bit."

Pucey clapped Albus on the shoulder on his way from the room, and Albus sat down on the edge of Scorpius' bed.

"It's finally over," said Scorpius, relieved.

"Easy for you to say," grumbled Albus. "You ranked right behind Rose in our class -"

"I'm going to be bitter about that forever."

"You're not waiting on your N.E. to see if you have a job."

"I'm sure you did fine," said Scorpius, but he wasn't sure. He felt guilty that his boggart incident had distracted Albus during his Care of Magical Creatures exam, and sincerely hoped it hadn't cost Albus his place at the Magizoology Society. He wasn't sure he could forgive himself for Albus' limp and the loss of the job he wanted.

Albus looked up at him, absently massaging his thigh. "The potion is wearing off."

"It was only ever going to get you through a few hours," Scorpius said sadly. "I'm sorry."

"I wish it had lasted longer," Albus admitted.

"If you don't want to go, we don't have to."

"Of course I do," Albus said. "After the fiasco of that Christmas Ball last year and... well, and the informal one we didn't get to at the end of the fall term..."

Scorpius looked down and shuffled his feet. Albus grabbed his hand and tugged at him until he came over to stand in front of him.

"I just want to go to our last Hogwarts dance with my boyfriend," Albus said. "And if I break my neck trying to dance with him, it's fine because he's brilliant and can probably heal it on the spot."

"Your Quidditch scratches were one thing," Scorpius laughed. "A spinal injury is completely different."

Albus chuckled and wrapped his arms around Scorpius' waist, turning his face against his stomach.

"I think this is the longest I've been mostly happy in my life," Albus said. "I guess gratitude does that to you."

Scorpius ran his fingers through Albus' hair, smoothing it down.

"What were you talking to my dad about?"

"Hmm?" hummed Albus, muffled by Scorpius' jumper.

"A little while ago. When you hugged him."

"Oh, you saw that?" Albus asked, looking up at Scorpius again. "I think your dad only likes hugging you."

"Don't change the subject."

"Can I promise that I'll tell you someday?" Albus asked. "Just not today?"

Scorpius rolled his eyes and stepped back.

"Secrets? Really?"

"It's not a secret. It's just something between me and your dad. And yes, I know that's strange."

Scorpius folded his arms, perturbed. He didn't like not knowing things, especially when it came to his father or Albus, and this involved both of them.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes."

"He told me that he was proud of me, and he thanked me again for taking care of you these last few months," Albus said. "And he told me that no matter what happens between you and me, that he'd always be there if I needed him."

"That's... actually really nice," said Scorpius. "I was actually thinking earlier that if something happens between us..."

Albus frowned up at him, brow furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if we break up," Scorpius said, "that I'd really miss your family."

Albus blinked at him. "I've never even considered that we'd break up. Not since the last Christmas dance."

"Really?"

"No. I honestly don't even think I've thought of it." Albus suddenly looked horrified. "Are you unhappy?"

"No! Not at all," said Scorpius quickly, flustered. "That's not what I meant. I just meant that if you get sick of me or something I'd really miss your family because I care about them, but I'm not - I'm not really thinking about those things. Bad things. We've just always been at Hogwarts and I wonder what it will be like after."

"Okay," said Albus, relieved, but not entirely believing. He fell silent and played with Scorpius' fingers until he stepped back to remove his jumper and get changed.

"Wait," said Albus.

"For what?"

"Just... hold on."

Albus shuffled over to his trunk and dug around in it, throwing out mismatched socks and old quills until he found what he was looking for - an old camera. He stood up and checked the film and, satisfied, placed the camera in the top shelf of his wardrobe, near eye level.

Scorpius watched, confused.

"If this is the last time we'll ever be in our uniforms... I want to remember it," Albus said, smiling over his shoulder. "We grew up in these things. And when I think back on it, I don't want to remember us sulking around in second year hating our house and this place. I want to remember us like we are now."

"Crippled and having fever dreams most nights?"

Albus glared at him playfully. "Together. Even though it took a while."

Albus pressed the timer on the camera and Scorpius watched as it blinked and Albus hopped back towards him and pulled him into alignment with the lens. They didn't have many photos together - not just the two of them - and just as the light pulsed steady and the shudder opened, he turned and kissed Albus' cheek and he laughed.

That was what he wanted to remember.


All the seventh years were milling about with drinks in their hands and smiles on their faces when Albus and Scorpius entered the Great Hall. It was draped in all the house banners - not as resplendent as the holiday parties, but far more familiar and warm.

It's nice, thought Scorpius, to leave without hating this place.

Scorpius stood on his toes and looked around for familiar faces as Albus fiddled with the cufflinks his father had given him as a gift earlier.

"I bet it killed him," Albus muttered, running his fingers over the dark green stones, "buying the Slytherin ones."

Scorpius waved to Ainsley, who grabbed them both drinks as she passed the refreshment table. She was wearing the set of black and gold dress robes Draco had bought for her over Easter break.

"Thanks for inviting me!" she said for the tenth time.

"I couldn't let my plus-one go to waste," Scorpius said, taking a sip. The Butterbeer was warm and sweet - not unlike the day had felt.

"I wasn't allowed to," Albus grumbled again.

"Who'd you give yours to?"

"My brother," Albus said. "He still knows a lot of people here."

Ainsley wrinkled her nose for just a second and Albus quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Problem?"

"No. Your brother is fine. I shouldn't... It doesn't matter," said Ainsley dismissively. She instead led them towards the tables near the dance floor. "Not right now."

Scorpius watched Albus limping out of the corner of his eye, anxious.

"Al, are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," said Albus, but Scorpius was familiar with all of his smiles, and this was the one he used to cover up pain and frustration. He fell silent until they reached the table Ainsley had picked and sat down to take snacks from the ever-replenishing seven-tiered serving tower at the center of the table.

"Oh! It's those little eclairs you like," he said, and held one out to Albus, who took it with a somewhat-sad smile.

Rose emerged from the mass of students, grinning in her deep red dress robes.

"Can you believe it?" she asked, falling into the empty chair next to Albus. She took a sip of his Butterbeer.

"Believe what?" asked Albus.

"That we've graduated! I'll be sad, you know," she told them. "I've loved Hogwarts from the day we got here. But it'll be good to be at the Ministry."

"So your mum found you a place?" asked Scorpius. Rose narrowed her eyes at him a bit.

"No, mum did not," she told him. "I applied for a position in the Department of Games and Sports all on my own. I didn't want her pulling strings for me."

Scorpius decided it wasn't a good idea to remind her that her last name was enough to get her any job she wanted without the Minister's interference, so he busied himself with the cuffs of his shirt, making sure they covered the scars on his wrists.

"I can't wait until I'm done here," said Ainsley. "Not that I dislike it. But I'd rather be out there helping people."

"What do you want to do when you graduate?" Rose asked her earnestly. Ainsley shrugged.

"I'm not sure," she said. "I've got some ideas, but I haven't really made up my mind."

"Well, I'm sure you'll do great," Albus said.

"Your marks are solid. And you're excellent in Charms," said Scorpius.

Ainsley smiled at them and opened her mouth to reply, but James appeared behind his brother and clapped him on the back.

"Ready to go be an adult?" James asked.

"Not at all," said Albus with a grin.

"I think your Leavers Ball is better than mine," James admitted. "Better music."

Albus opened his mouth to disagree - Scorpius knew he hated the song that was playing - but he didn't get the chance. A rogue arm came around Scorpius' side and seized a glass of water, and before he knew it, one of the pretty, blonde Gryffindor girls from their year threw it in James' face, drenching his hair and the top of his robes.

"That," the Gryffindor said, "is for what you did last spring."

And she stalked off without another word. Scorpius looked up at James as he wiped the water from his eyes and cheeks.

"Did you deserve that?" Ainsley asked coolly.

"I probably did," muttered James. Albus looked up, both amused and sympathetic, and saw that his brother had gone quite red, much like their mother did when she was embarrassed.

"What did you do to her?" Scorpius asked. James cringed

"I'd rather not talk about it," he admitted, using his wand and a few quick charms to dry the shoulders of his charcoal robes. "It was a long time ago."

"I don't know, James," said Rose. "It probably isn't to her. Last year isn't all that long ago."

James looked defeated and shoved his hands in the pockets of his robes.

"Can't a guy change?" he asked Rose. "Look - Scorpius spent all those years asking you out and now he's with Albus and everyone accepts that. Can't I have outgrown some things?"

"I wouldn't say everyone accepts it," corrected Scorpius. The Gryffindors that had said uncharitable things about his relationship with Albus - the one that had caused his first public outburst - were just visible in the crowd.

"Everyone who matters," said James. "I am trying, you know."

Ainsley sighed and stood up, smoothing out her robes and tucking away a stray lock of her hair.

"Come on," she said. She held her hand out to James, who stared at it for a moment before looking up at her. "Dance with me."

Albus had seen James through several brief relationships. He'd met several of the girls he'd dated, and had even liked a few of them before James would inevitably decide he wanted to see someone else or play the field. Albus had even believed he'd cared about some of his girlfriends.

But he'd never seen his brother look at anyone the way he looked at Ainsley Greengrass in that moment. The James he'd known for years would have never let a girl know how much a gesture like that meant to him, but when James offered her his arm and they walked towards the dance floor, he looked delighted.

"Wait," said Rose. "James still gets what he wants even when he's been insulted for being rude to another girl in the past?"

"James always gets what he wants," Albus reminded her, shaking his head and watching his brother as the music changed and he began dancing slowly with Ainsley. "All those Christmases..."

Rose laughed as she stood, draining the rest of Albus' Butterbeer.

"So true," she said. "I'll see the two of you later. This is my last chance to dance with Bradley Powell before he heads off to the States and I'm not wasting it."

"Go get him," Albus encouraged her.

Scorpius waved to her as she left.

"I like your family," he said, resting his chin atop Albus' shoulder.

"They're alright" said Albus. "I think we've all gotten better."

Scorpius noticed Albus tapping his fingers on his knee, his jaw tight and tense.

"We don't have to dance or anything," Scorpius said softly. "We can just be here. It's nice."

Albus shook his head and smiled over his shoulder, reaching inside the pocket of his robes. Scorpius couldn't see what he was doing, and before he could stop it, Albus unstoppered a vial and drank its blue contents in a single gulp.

"Al!"

"What?" said Albus, cringing at the taste. He tossed the empty vial down on the table, and Scorpius' suspicions were confirmed. It was another dose of the painkilling potion he'd taken earlier in the day to get through the graduation ceremony.

"You know the side effects! You already took one dose today."

"I'll take the hangover if it means I can dance with you, finally," said Albus, chasing the potion with a few sips of water and standing, testing his balance for a few seconds before deeming it satisfactory.

"Come on," he said, nodding to the dance floor and extending his hand. "I think after everything we deserve a single dance."

Scorpius looked at his extended hand - the one he'd taken so many times before - and felt a sudden rush of nostalgia.

He'd followed Albus into trouble so many times - off a train, through time, into arguments he didn't need to be in, and even into a couple fights - and he knew that even as they were leaving Hogwarts and their childhoods behind, he'd follow Albus Potter anywhere he asked.

Scorpius took his hand and Albus led him, still with a slight limp, into the crowd of their peers - the familiar faces that would line his memories, for better or worse - weaving their way through friends and acquaintances and old potions partners. They passed the people who had called them the Son of Voldemort and the Slytherin Squib and the Slytherins who had defended them and the ones who had joined in on the jeering. They wove through Gryffindors who had bullied them and the Weasleys' friends who had tried to put a stop to it, and Janus Fortescue, whose nose still didn't look quite right.

Scorpius found a clear spot on the floor and pulled Albus close - glad that the music had slowed down for the moment. He took one of Albus' hands in his own and placed another hand on his side - the one that always ached, and as Albus did the same, pulling him closer, he felt so entirely ordinary for the first time in a year that he swallowed hard, gathering himself.

"What is it?" Albus asked as they swayed on the spot, neither of them wanting to lead.

"It's just so normal," Scorpius said.

Albus grinned - a real smile that reached his bright green eyes. It was the kind of smile that Scorpius didn't see too often. It was the kind that he often felt he had to earn.

"It is normal," Albus said. "I'm Albus. Just Albus. And you're just Scorpius."

"And that's it?"

"And that's it."

They smiled at each other, and Albus looked at him with such fondness that Scorpius felt certain Albus Potter would follow him anywhere too – but hadn't he already? As they swayed with the music, Scorpius thought of all the times Albus had taken care of him - from the calming talks before a big test to the way he'd spent the night on the floor of the Malfoy Manor's sitting room, holding his hand.

I'll let you take me to hell this summer, if you want.

After so many complicated days and nights, Scorpius found himself wholly present - a sensation he barely remembered - just dancing with his boyfriend and not caring at all what anyone thought, and was, for the moment, completely and entirely happy.


Albus couldn't decide whether he wanted to remember his last moments at Hogwarts or not, but as he surveyed the Slytherin boys' dorm for any remaining items that he or Scorpius could have forgotten after their roommates had cleared away their things, he couldn't help seeing flashes of the last seven years as he gathered stray socks and papers.

"Strange to think that we won't be coming back," said Scorpius from beside his bed.

Albus stared at the bed, neatly made, and wondered who would be the next Slytherin to occupy it. That person would never know that he had Scorpius Malfoy's bed, or how many nightmares and tears those pillows had seen. He'd never know that Albus Potter had spent his last semester sleeping in that bed, telling everyone that it was for Scorpius' benefit when he knew it was also for his own.

"I don't mind," admitted Albus, sitting on his trunk by the door. He was tired and sore, and his stomach was deeply unhappy with the amount of potion he'd consumed the previous day. "I think this place is done with us."

Scorpius smiled as he cleaned his glasses on the edge of his shirt. He wanted a good look at the room one last time and decided he wanted to remember the happier things about Hogwarts.

"Do you remember that night before finals in fifth year?"

Albus laughed. "How could I forget?"

Scorpius grinned at him, replacing his glasses on his face.

"I think that was the most terrifying moment of my life," said Scorpius, crossing his arms. "Up to that point. If you forget about the whole Voldemort Day incident."

"I spent two years trying to forget that."

"I couldn't stop shaking," Scorpius reminisced. "I was so happy. I would have been happy with you just telling me you fancied me."

"So kissing you without warning was overkill?"

"You could have given me a heart attack."

"That would have been disappointing," Albus admitted. "Imagine explaining that to Madam Pomfrey."

Scorpius reached up and extinguished the lantern over his bed for the last time and ran his hand over the surface of his desk.

"It's never been perfect," Scorpius lamented. "But we always had each other."

"And it's always been enough."

"It always will be."

Scorpius grabbed the handles of their trunks and Albus pulled his rucksack over his back.

"Do you need your 'walking stick'?" Scorpius asked, imitating his father.

"No, I'll be okay for a while," Albus assured him.

Scorpius nodded and took one last glance at their dorm before heading down the hall, and Albus closed the door behind himself.


The Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Cross exactly on time as it did every year, and like every year, Platform 9 3/4 was full of parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, waiting to pick up their loved ones.

Scorpius scanned the faces through the window as the train slowed to a halt, and saw his father talking to Harry and Ginny in the distance.

"Al?"

Scorpius looked down to where Albus was tucked into his shoulder, fast asleep. Both he and Rose had lasted only a few minutes on the train before passing out. Rose was exhausted form staying up until dawn, and Albus was feeling the effects of taking too much painkilling potion.

Albus didn't stir, and Scorpius, whose arm had been numb for an hour, looked to Ainsley, who was putting away her book.

"Dad's outside," Scorpius told her.

"This is the first time my mother hasn't been here to pick me up," Ainsley said softly. "I'm not upset. It's just... strange."

"I know," Scorpius said. "A lot has changed."

"The Ministry is trying to locate my father," she said. "I don't know what they're going to find."

She looked out the window as the train jerked to a halt, waking both Rose and Albus.

"Are we there already?" Rose groaned.

Albus turned his face against Scorpius' shoulder, leaving only a mess of wavy black hair visible.

"Come on, sleepy-Albus," Scorpius said quietly. "We've got to get off the train."

"Already? Five more minutes."

Albus wrapped his arms around Scorpius' waist, holding him in place. Ainsley smiled at them fondly as Scorpius took his fingers, full of pins and needles, and ran them through Albus' hair.

"We've got to go," he whispered to Albus.

Albus huffed and sat up, rubbing his eyes until they felt clear and looking out the window, blinking at the light.

"Okay," he said finally. "If we have to."

Albus and Rose pulled themselves up and Scorpius retrieved their bags from the rack.

"I'll be happy to see my cat," Scorpius admitted. "I hated leaving her."

"Too much with N.E. and all," Rose said. "I'm still stressed and it's been over for two weeks."

"You guys are stressing me out a year in advance," said Ainsley.

Albus grumbled, looking down at his leg as Scorpius slung their bags over his back.

"You okay?"

Albus looked at him for a second before nodding and smiling crookedly.

"I'm fine," Albus assured, just before he kissed Scorpius' cheek and limped from the compartment behind Rose and Ainsley.

Scorpius stepped off the Hogwarts Express for the last time with a bit of trepidation, and he looked down the length of the scarlet engine, steam billowing from the front. The crowd in front of him was oppressive - he hadn't been in such a group outside of Hogwarts in a long time, save for the trial - and he was suddenly aware of all the eyes on him and the faces turning and whispering behind hands.

His father was meters away, through rows and rows of waiting families, and it seemed like a terribly long distance to traverse, and Ainsley and Rose had already disappeared into the crowd. He saw a father from the corner of his eye look him over and pull his young daughter close, protective.

Scorpius' felt himself go red until a familiar face pushed its way back through the crowd. Albus held out his hand for Scorpius with a smile.

"Come on. Let's go home," said Albus. "Together, this time."

Scorpius smiled and caught Albus' fingers, letting himself be pulled into the crowd until Albus had his arm around his shoulders and his lips pressed to Scorpius' temple. They wove their way through the people and Scorpius held onto Albus' waist tightly, grounded and safe.

Albus looked at all the people staring as they passed, and smirked.

"Still think we'll be able to live quietly after Hogwarts?"

"Probably not," admitted Scorpius. "We have a tendency to make sensational headlines."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," said Albus as they reached the Potters and Draco, enveloped once again by the strange, patchwork-family they'd somehow assembled.

Scorpius didn't know what was going to happen next or where he'd end up, and after everything he'd seen, he knew that thought should be frightening. But as Albus grinned at him over Lily's head, exchanging greetings with Draco and his parents, Scorpius knew that at the very least, he'd always know where home was.

-Fin-

Author's Note:

Yes, this is the end of 'Quietly.'

No, I'm not done with Scorpius and Albus or this continuity.

Upon realizing this was longer than 'Prisoner of Azkaban', I figured it was time to turn it into a series, so you'll be able to start reading the next installment in a few days' time. It will pick up a short time after this chapter left off.

Welcome to 'The Quietly Series,' which will be published on Archive of Our Own.

Note: I'm not going to mark 'Quietly' as complete until I'm done editing each chapter and cleaning it up, possibly adding in some of the scenes and items I cut previously.

If you want updates before then (or to see some fantastic fanart), head on over to my Tumblr ( ijustwalkintomordor) and I'll try to post some updates and you can send me your thoughts.

Writing this fic has been an absolute dream and I thank you all for the support and comments you've given over the last few weeks. It's meant the world to me and this has been an excellent experience as I've fallen in love with this universe all over again.

I sincerely hope you'll join me for 'Seasons' and 'Softly,' which are already in the preliminary stages.

xoxo,

SP