They're half-heartedly testing Harry's occlumency, sitting around a table in deep the library with a muffling ward up. Three of them are slumped down, still sweaty in quidditch gear and poor Remus -quiet study time interrupted- is throwing around freshening charms.

(Harry caught the snitch in fifteen minutes and it was unsatisfying so the three of them lured in some other players and spent the last two hours having a free-for-all.)

Sirius is describing his shields for Harry. It's a dark forest where people get stalked by a werewolf but it's a distraction and it all leads to a small clearing where the trees split enough to shine down soft white memories of moonlight onto a resting stag.

"Out of the six attempts that have tried to get in, Prongs skewered five," Sirius announces. "Because he looks so innocent just grazing nicely, you can even pet him and everything - right up until he gets you in the back while you're trying to find one of my memories." He pats Remus on the shoulder. "The sixth attempt got gored by Moony."

"Glad I could help," Remus muses.

"Do you practice occlumency too?" Harry asks Remus because he now realises he hasn't heard any of the three mention it yet.

"Ah, werewolves are a bit difficult with that kind of thing," Remus admits. "Some magic goes a bit wrong when you add in a whole other consciousness. So if someone does try to use legilimency on me, Moony is already waiting for them."

"The animagi transformation is another one," James picks up. "Because Remus can technically do it, but there was a story about a woman who shifted into the wolf and then just couldn't shift back because she didn't have the mind to. Also Remus -actually all of us- also get a bit weird around divination incense because it amplifies that instinct part of the brain to help Seers."

"Cheering charms upset Moony," Remus lists. "Confundus is a bit touch and go with which one of us gets the effects. Apparently imperio just means the wolf takes over the body while the human mind is being controlled - read about that one but most of it is just...it happening and us reacting. Maybe it would be better in a werewolf pack but, well." He gestures at James. "I can't exactly bring a deer with me."

"There's really nothing out there to help that's free access?" Harry asks in confusion. "No werewolf wrote a book or something? No charity organisation or the like taking owl mail questions?"

"There are really in-depth books about werewolves," Sirius explains. "But it's all about the curse transmission or pack structure or how to kill one."

Remus offers up a wry smile. "No one likes werewolves. We're monster enough to be feared, but not monster enough to be interesting."

"I've been writing notes about it though," James says happily. "For Remi's kids."

"I'm not having kids," Remus says immediately.

Harry winces a bit.

"For the werewolf kids we're going to adopt," James corrects.

"Wait, we're adopting kids?" Sirius asks.

"Are we not?" James wonders. "Do you...not want to?"

Sirius stares at him for a long moment. "Whatever you want, love."

Remus only sighs. "Just give me some warning before it happens."

Harry tilts his head. "Would they be my siblings or my nieces and nephews?"

"Uhhhh," James says because that's going to be confusing.

"Maybe you should write notes on how to have a time travelling son," Remus deadpans.

Sirius lights up. "Oh, wait, did you write down about the time we searched the library for a section on 'is my teenage werewolf doing a dominance display or is he just gay when he humps his animagus friends'."

"Not in front of Harry," Remus mutters, rubbing his forehead and half shielding his face. "By the way, I really appreciate you booting me out of the closet with no warning back then."

"I was fully out by then, I don't know why you were still being shy," Sirius scoffs.

"My situation was a bit different, Mr I-fuck-anything-with-a-pulse Black," Remus retorts.

James tsks. "I mean technically I've been pretending to be straight but that's because as soon as I say I'm bi, everyone will be like; oh, so they are your boyfriends. And my already pathetic dating life will never recover from that."

"You're bi?" Sirius asks, too excitedly.

"Did I not tell you?" James asks in confusion.

"You did but then you keep coming back with the 'not gay' thing. Plus you've never shown interest in a boy before."

"Because you scare them off!" James cries. "Do you remember Kisung?"

"He was too old for you," Sirius fires back. "And his pick-up lines were shit."

"He was funny!"

"I'm funny! Funnier than him!"

"This!" James snaps, gesturing at Sirius. "This is why I have to tell people I'm straight!"

"Or we could just be boyfriends since we're apparently fucking adopting werewolf babies together!"

"Do you not want the kids?!"

Sirius throws up his arms and then just sighs. "Well how many are you thinking?"

"There's three of us," James says, ticking off three fingers while he thinks. "And Harry can babysit. Plus there are fourteen main Potter properties-"

"Why would we ever need fourteen houses - no," Remus declares. "Whatever number you're thinking right now, no. I'm pretty sure there aren't even that many kids for you to find."

"We have enough money to hire nannies if we need to plus all the house elves," James continues, ignoring Remus. "And the tutors can teach most of the kids at the same time-"

"Pureblood tutors?" Sirius with a grimace.

"Yes," Remus cuts in. "You two assholes coasted right through to fourth year on Pureblood knowledge alone. We're getting tutors for our children."

"Did one of you want to be a house husband?" James asks. "Just until I fulfill my dream of winning the quidditch world cup for England, then I can stay at home."

"How long is that going to take?" Sirius asks in amusement.

"Oh, a year or two," James says casually. "The key is for me and Harry to be scouted together."

Harry perks up.