A/N: Nothing of import to report this time. Just a reminder that I own neither the characters nor their world and that feedback is dearly loved.

11. Wish Upon a Shooting Star

It was not the warmest of nights; that was for sure. But it wasn't so terribly cold, either. Winter had been over for a while, but summer wouldn't be around for several weeks, or longer. Even so, the two of them kept warm with jumpers and a blanket or two as they lied on the ground and stared upwards. It was a clear night, with not a cloud in the sky. Up above, the stars shone brightly and the occasional meteor fell from the heavens.

"My mum wishes on shooting stars," came Remus' quiet voice.
"Oh?" asked Doe.
"Yeah, she would always encourage me to as well. Well, she used to."

Doe nodded, mostly to herself. Mrs Lupin likely would have been forced to let him grow out of such a habit since the attack. His wishes surely would always be the exact same one. It was a wish that would never be granted. Some were more optimistic than she was, but Doe figured that if a cure hadn't been found before now, then it never would be.

"Do all muggles do that?" she asked. "Wish on shooting stars?"
"I'm not sure. It's probably like any other superstition – some buy into it and others don't."
"I see," was her simple reply.

Unlike Remus, she hadn't known her real mum much. Irene Meadowes had left her husband and daughter when Doe was nine, but had been pulling away since long before that. Doe had begun showing signs of magic at the age of six and at that point, Mrs Meadowes learned the truth of her husband. It seemed for a time that she would accept it and they would be the family they once were. But as Doe's magic grew stronger, her mother became more and more withdrawn. And then, one day, she left while Doe's father was at work.

She never came back.

"You don't approve?" asked Remus.
Doe shook her head, "It's not that." There was a small pause before she turned her head to face him. "When did you stop wishing?"
"Who says I did?"
"You still do?" she asked in a confused manner.
"What's wrong with having hopes and wishes?" he asked, turning to face her as well, his eyebrows raised.
A crease formed between Doe's brows and her lips pursed for a moment. "You always seem too pessimistic for such things."
"I'm a realist, Dorcas Meadowes. I know the state of the world and I don't give into delusions, but neither am I so downtrodden that I don't think miracles can happen or wishes come true."
"So what do you wish for?" she asked, rolling so that her entire body was facing him.
"That's quite a personal inquiry."
"Oh come on, you've told me plenty of other things."
"Most you simply figured out and I didn't deny," he corrected.
"Same thing," she said offhand.
"Besides," he said, mimicking her movement from before and rolling onto his side to face her, "if I tell you, then they won't come true."
Doe frowned. "You really believe all of that?"

She felt one of his hands rest on her waist, pulling her towards him. With a small smile, Doe allowed him to bring her close and helped along the way. Soon enough, their noses were nearly touching and she could feel the warmth from his body wash over her.

"So many questions," he said as he brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. "I feel as though I'm being interrogated."
"A Ravenclaw's thirst for knowledge is unquenchable," she teased."So I've heard."

Remus closed the distance then, pulling her face closer to his and pressing his lips to hers. She kissed him back eagerly, passionately, soon parting their lips and drawing her tongue along his upper lip. He responded by parting his lips, his tongue greeting her own. Doe rested a hand on his waist, her fingers slipping under his jumper and shirt, brushing against the soft skin gently. The kiss deepened and soon enough, she was lying on her back with Remus on top of her. A hand was buried in her hair, keeping her face and throat exposed to him. Both of her hands were under his clothing, pressed against his back to keep him close.

He broke away from her mouth and kissed along her jaw to her ear. "I've wished to kiss you under the stars for years."
"Then I suppose we should be having years worth of them, then, to grant each one."
"You'll hear no complaints from me," he said with a smile as he continued to kiss along her jaw to her throat.

Above the two of them, a star fell to earth, making a smile appear on Doe's face.

"I wish this night would never end."