He was out.

"Stop," Ava said breathlessly into Scorpius' ear. The blonde was moving his lips to the opening of her V-neck dress as his hands explored her backside. She hated the touch of his stone cold skin and longed for Albus' warmth, but she did it to help Albus, hopefully he would understand. His last look at her, so full with hurt and anger, was burned in the back of her eyes.

"Why? I thought you wanted this," Scorpius mumbled. He moved back up to look Ava in the face. She's so hot, he thought. I could go all the way with this one. Ava pursed her lips as she thought of an excuse to leave. It was more complicated than she thought; after all, she had started the kissing. Scorpius impatiently touched his lips roughly to her mouth again.

"No, I should get back to class," Ava pushed away and got up. She hurried to her room, threw on a robe and walked out before he could catch her again. With a heavy heart, she started her search for Albus. He wouldn't be in the Great Hall eating with the rest of the students. She knew he wouldn't be able to go face his friends, she wouldn't have either. Perhaps he went back to the Gryffindor tower, but she didn't know the password. The Room of Requirement. Of course.

It was less than five minutes until the bell would ring. Ava quickened her step, not wanting to be slowed down by throngs of people. She rounded a corner and bumped right into Professor Lupin.

"What are you doing?" Teddy demanded. His look softened as he recognized her. "Aren't you the lass that Albus fancies?" he asked with a gentler, teasing voice.

Ava turned red; she felt tears coming to her eyes. "I-I'm, I left something in one of the classes," she choked out.

"Yea? I heard you weren't in any of the classes today, Albus wasn't either. What's going on?" Lupin realized the connection and frowned. What in the world was his little cousin up to with a girl on the third day of school?

Ava couldn't help the tears as they rolled down her face. Each tear glistened like a thousand-facet diamond. Lupin looked at her with shock. Feeling quite horrible, he cleared his throat and left her fighting sobs at the corner of the corridor.

Ashamed, Ava tried desperately to stop the guilt that ate her up. I was trying to help. He'll understand, she thought over and over again. With a burst of energy, she ran to the wall where the Room of Requirement was and it let her in right as the bell rang for the students to move to their next class.

She was right. Albus stood by the window that she had sat at only last night. He didn't turn as she closed the door behind her.

"I'm sorry. It was the only thing I could think of to help you," she whispered as more tears rolled down her face.

Albus took a deep breathe and turned to finally face her. "I know, I'm sorry I looked so angry. It just, it was so wrong to see you kiss him." He took a step toward Ava and wiped a tear of her cheek. Smiling through blurred eyes, she threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into it, letting all her emotions out.

"I didn't know what else to do!" she sobbed. "I don't know what to do now!"

Albus held her tightly, waiting for her cries to calm down. There was no use being angry with the girl that he loved. She was just trying to help and she did. It had just torn a strip out of his heart to see another boy kiss her in front of him. Albus didn't even get to kiss her yet.

"We'll think of a way to get him off you," Albus reassured Ava.

She nodded, wiping the last tears away.

"This is going to sound unbelievably stupid, but was he a good kisser?" Albus winced at how jealous he sounded.

Ava laughed. She playfully tousled Albus' hair. "I don't have anything to compare that with, yet."

Getting her hint, he smiled and kissed her. He was gentler and more loving than Scorpius. Ava broke away and whispered, "nope. He wasn't great at all."

"Good," Albus mumbled and pressed his lips once again to Ava's. She didn't know it was possible to smile and kiss at the same time. Albus didn't push things like Malfoy had. Occasionally, they would stop to catch their breath and stare out the window. Soon, the sun staring its descent, marking the end of another day.

"Should we go back to our common rooms?" Albus asked. He really didn't want to leave, but it was only polite to ask.

"They would ask questions, wouldn't they? Let's just stay here," Ava answered.

Immediately, the Room of Requirement added a large bed to the corner of the room.

"What about supper?" Albus asked.

A house elf appeared in the room with a platter full of food. He set it down on the table, bowed, and disappeared with a crack.

"Thanks Kreacher," Albus whispered to the thin air.