The first person to ever notice Moony physique was Regulus. Of course it was him. He was the most observant person Remus ever knew. And it all had started in the library. Remus and Regulus studied together more often than not. They not only enjoyed each other company but, Regulus was very smart – just like his brother; the difference was that Regulus did put the effort in – and so Remus often asked for his opinion on essays and such.
Tuesday afternoon was like any other day. Remus and Regulus sat on opposites side of the table on the library. They had sat far from Madam Pince since James had decided to accompany his boyfriend for the study session. This meant, James would try to distract Regulus by lightly touching, tickling or giving him little kisses and Regulus, although he would smile, would just half-heartedly bat his boyfriend away. Remus had no problem with this. They were quiet enough with their shenanigans so Remus could concentrate easily.
Regulus giggled softly as he pushed James´s face away from his own. James has just stolen a little peck from his boyfriend. “Stop it, James.” whispered Regulus with a small discreet smile. This of course, only made James beam at him.
Remus, on the other hand, let out a tired sigh, feeling the strain of hours spent poring over dusty volumes. He casually leaned back in his chair, without noticing that he had caught Regulus's attention; he stretched his arms above his head, causing his sweater to ride up ever so slightly.
As Remus stretched, Regulus couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in the fabric, revealing a glimpse of toned muscles beneath. His eyes widened in surprise, and he discreetly nudged James, who was sitting across the table engrossed in his own reading.
"James, look," Regulus whispered, nudging his boyfriend again to catch his attention.
But as quickly as the sweater had ride up, it had also fallen. “What´s up love?” asked James as he observe Moony without noticing anything specific.
Remus was once again crouched over the heavy tome of “Magical potions and their use in everyday life”. Regulus nodded subtly towards Remus but James still wasn´t seeing anything. James shrugged as if saying “i have no fucking clue what you are talking about”.
Regulus got close to James in order not to be heard by Remus. “Remus is bloody fit.”
“I mean, yeah.” said James with a curious smile. “Are you only noticing now?”
“No. I mean he has abs.” said Regulus chancing a glance of disbelief to Remus. “Like... well groove abs.”
James laughed attracting briefly Moony´s attention; although the sandy haired boy just shook his head and resumed his studying.
“Believe me love, we see Moony transform every month, I think I would have notice if he had abs.” whispered James.
This was partially true. Remus never let them stay to see the transformation and at the end of the night, when the sun started to come out the wolf would settle down and Padfoot would cover him by dragging a blanket with his snout. So, while they hadn't seen Remus, his frail body didn't give much indication of muscle.
“Jamie, I swear I saw.” said Regulus.
“Whatever you two are hushing about, can you shut up? I´m trying to read here, love birds.” said Remus without taking his nose out of his book.
“Sorry Moony.” said James and Regulus in unison.
Regulus mouthed to James “I swear it.” James laughed and leaned into Regulus. "Alright, Reg. I'll take your word for it. But I still think you're seeing things."
Remus kicked James underneath the table and shoot him a warning look. Regulus rolled his eyes playfully as Remus once again returned to his book. And that was that.
.0.
The next person who found out Moony was strong was Pete. The midday sun was beating down upon the shores of the Great Lake, casting shimmering reflections upon the water's surface. Remus and Peter had found a secluded spot beneath the shade of a towering oak tree, seeking refuge from the oppressive heat that enveloped Hogwarts grounds. Pete hatted the warm weather. Everything was sweaty and humid due to the closeness to the lake. Even with the shadow cast by the oak tree, the heat chase after them. And so, Pete was grumpy.
“What has your knickers on a twist?” asked Remus. He had his freaking winter sweater on, and Peter was getting suffocated just by looking at him.
“Is this freaking weather.” complained Pete. “Is unfair that we can´t go into the lake.”
“Well, you can but if the mere people catch you I´m not going to rescue you.” joked Moony as he laid down on the cool grass.
However, Pete wasn´t in the mood to joke. “I swear Moony if you don´t take that sweater off I´m going to die of heat just by looking at you. Seriously is one million degrees here.”
“Bloody hell, Wormy. If you want me to take my clothes off first, ask me out will you.”
Since Pete didn´t laugh and Remus sensed his friend was truly annoyed he decided he could cast a tiny weather spell. Remus reached for his wand and cast a metelojinx. The air instantly became cooler, and Pete looked at Moony in disbelief.
“What? Prefects can use magic at any time you know.” said Remus with a sly smile.
“Moony, my saviour!” laughed Peter; his mood drastically improved. “Now I will take you out.”
“Careful” teased Remus “Sirius might have something to say about that.” Remus let out a contented sigh, stretching out on the soft grass beside Peter, as they laughed together. With a sheepish smile, he tugged at the fabric, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside, revealing a plain white shirt underneath.
As Remus shifted, the hem of his shirt rode up slightly, exposing a sliver of taut skin and the faint outline of defined muscles beneath. Peter's eyes widened in surprise; his gaze drawn to the unexpected sight before him.
"Merlin's beard, Remus," Peter exclaimed, unable to contain his astonishment. "Since when did you have abs?"
Remus glanced over at Peter, a bemused expression on his face as he realized what had caught his friend's attention. "Oh, er... I suppose I've always had them. Just never felt the need to flaunt them. The perks of being a werewolf I think."
Peter shook his head in disbelief, still marvelling at the discovery. "But why hide them under those oversized sweaters all the time? You could have been the envy of the entire school!"
Remus chuckled softly, the warmth of the sun dancing across his skin. "I guess I never really thought about it. Besides, why would I want the whole school to know if I only care about what one person thinks."
“Wait! Does Sirius know you are brawny?” asked Peter.
Remus felt his face heat up and not due to the sunlight. “No, uhm... we haven´t done anything... like that yet.”
“Well, he is in for a pleasant surprise, I guess.” laughed Peter. He knew Remus was still shy about his fairly new romantic relationship with Sirius so he didn´t want to push.
“Thanks?” said Remus mildly uncomfortable.
“Huh.” Peter said absorbed into his own thoughts. “You are deceptively fragile looking.”
“Thanks?” laughed Remus, this time.
.0.
"I'm telling you, guys, I saw it with my own eyes!" Peter exclaimed, gesturing animatedly. As he sat with his friends on the Gryffindor table, at lunch. "Remus has abs, and they're like... really defined!"
Lily raised an eyebrow sceptically, exchanging a knowing glance with Dorcas. "Are you sure you're not imagining things, Peter?”
“I saw them too!” exclaimed Regulus.
“Pleased, they guy barely passed the flying lessons in first year.” laughed Marlene.
“I have never in my life seen him doing any kind of exercise” added Dorcas. “Although maybe is all the piles of books he carries around the castle.”
Everyone laughed as Marlene continued the joke “I think that´s it. And we have been wasting our time training in quidditch darling.” Dorcas laughed at her girlfriend.
“Even if he did, I doubt he'd flaunt it around like some sort of Quidditch star, right Potter?" Teased Lily.
“Oi! Slander!” James laughed. “I don´t do that anymore.”
“Well, I wouldn´t complain.” said Regulus dead panned. James snaps his head towards his boyfriend to look at him with disbelieve.
“Ugh, get a room.” mocked Dorcas.
“I have seen Remus naked before, he definitely has abs.” said Pandora suddenly. Everyone in the table felt silent. They all looked at her waiting for an explanation, however she just continues to eat her breakfast as usual.
They all exchange looks. What the fuck?
“Panda, why have you seen Remus naked before?” asked Dorcas gently.
“Oh.” she said as if she was truly surprised by the question. “It was an accident you see -”
Before Pandora could respond, Remus and Sirius strolled into the great hall, their presence drawing the attention of their friends. Remus, clad in his signature grandpa sweater, greeted everyone with a warm smile, unaware of the conversation that had just taken place. They all exchanged looks but Remus didn't even notice as he gave Sirius his satchel which Remus had carried for him. Sirius stole on shy peck from Remus and they both smile sheepishly at each other.
Regulus seized the opportunity, swiftly plucking James's glasses from his face and holding them out to Remus. "Moony, could you do me a favour and clean these for me?" Regulus asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Remus looked around as if he was surprised there were other people in the room apart from Sirius. Remus obliged, taking the glasses from Regulus and carefully wiping them clean with the hem of his sweater. As he did so, the fabric lifted slightly, revealing a hint of toned muscle beneath, barely visible but undeniable to those who were paying attention.
The room fell silent as Remus returned the glasses to James, unaware of the sudden shift in atmosphere. “Thanks Remmy.” said Regulus turning to James to whisper. “Did you see?”
Sirius and Remus took their seats and Sirius started preparing tea for him and his boyfriend.
“Of course, I didn´t see, you took my bloody glasses off.” whispered James to his boyfriend.
Regulus rolled his eyes. He turned to the rest of the table, everyone was exchanging disbelieved glances and Pandora was just smiling slyly. “Everyone saw.” whispered Regulus. “Told you.” he said loudly to the rest of the table.
“See!” Pete exclaimed. Lily nudge him to shush him but when they turned to look at Remus and Sirius, they realize neither of them had heard a bit of what their friends where saying.
Sirius, seeing that their friends where busy and nobody was really paying attention to them had ventured to grad Moony´s hand underneath the table. Both boys were lightly blushed, and they were smiling at each other with soft smiles. Neither of them really saying anything but both existing in their own bubble.
“Stop making puppy eyes at my best friend! I´m having breakfast.” said Regulus throwing a piece of loaf of bread at his brother's head.
“Ouch!” complained Sirius. “You little bastard! I had to spend months of you pining for Prongs, you own me.”
“I did not pined.”
“Pleas you were worse than me.” laughed Sirius. “James you should have seen him, he has this notebook where he used to write – Ouch, fucking hell Reggie!” whined Sirius when Regulus threw him a spoon. “What was that for?”
“You want to go there Sirius?” asked Regulus with an evil smirk. “Why don´t I tell Moony about that time on the Hogwarts express when you -”
“No! No! You win! You win!” shouted Sirius as his brother gave him a sly grin. Sirius crossed his arms like a child throwing a tantrum.
Remus grabbed Sirius by the shoulders and tuck him into his arms. Moony planted a small kiss on Sirius´s forehead and the raven-haired boy was instantly brought back to a cheery mood. Moony always did that to him. It was inevitable to be happy with his Moony around.
.0.
James and Sirius found out about Moony´s abs several weeks later. By this time, Sirius and Remus were out of the honeymoon phase. This didn´t meant they were less in love, actually this meant they were more comfortable now with public displays of affection and this also meant that both boys had served at least five detentions for either snogging in class or skipping class to go on little rendezvous of their own; which Regulus and James where very disappointed about.
“Seriously guys how did Sprout caught you?” asked James incredulously. “You took the map and the freaking cloak.”
“Well, Prongsie, we weren´t paying attention to the map, were we Moonymine?” answered Sirius with a shite eating grin.
“Ugh gross.” complained Regulus.
“Stop traumatizing my best friend Padfoot.” laughed Remus. “We were just snogging.” Sirius would pout and Moony always gave in. “But yeah, we weren´t paying attention to the map.”
The new comfortableness not only brought Remus and Sirius to be open about their love for each other. It also brough back their bickering, which was an essential part of their relationship even as friends. They would bicker about the most random stuff and Sirius would put on a show of being offended and Moony would just embrace his boyfriend and everything would be okay again. James sometimes thought they bickered with the sole propose of hugging or snogging afterwards as a way to “make it up” to the other.
"Sirius, I'm telling you, the new stink bomb at Zonko´s is much better than the last one," Remus said, trying to reason with his boyfriend.
Of course it was better. Sirius only wanted to push Remus´s buttons in hopes that after wards he would have to shower Moony with kisses to “make it up” to him. In reality, Sirius had already bought an entire box of the new stink bombs for them to use on their next prank.
"Better? Are you joking?! These new ones are more expensive and i bet they don´t even stink that badly." Sirius replied, his tone firm.
As the debate escalated, James, who was sitting nearby, couldn't help but be entertained. He knew how stubborn both Sirius and Remus could be. “I´ll give you five galleons if you make them stop.” said Regulus who was reading with his head on James´s lap.
"I bet five galleons that this argument won't end peacefully," James interjected with a mischievous grin.
Remus glanced over at James, a determined glint in his eyes. The bet has caught his ears. “I bet you both five galleons I can end the argument right now.”
“Are you betting right now?” Sirius asked faking being offended. Now, Moony would have to shower him with kisses. Bickering was a win-win really. “We are having a discussion, and you have the nerve to-”
The room fell silent for a moment. James' eyes widened in surprise, Regulus didn´t even blink, and Pete, who was in his bed not really paying attention to his friend´s shenanigans, was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. Sirius, on the other hand, felt his cheeks flush a bright shade of red as he stared, dumbfounded.
Remus, with a sly smile, had swiftly pulled his sweater and shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor, revealing a set of surprisingly defined abs.
"Moony! What... what are you doing?" Sirius stammered, trying to find his words. He was as red as a tomatoe. His fair skinned did nothing for him trying to hide the blush creeping up his face.
"I figured that a little distraction might do the trick.” Remus replied calmly. Then he turned to James and Regulus “You owe me five galleons.”
“Merlin´s beard Moony! You have proper abs!” exclaimed James as Remus grabbed his sweater to put it on.
Sirius let out a nervous laugh, still struggling to form coherent sentences. "I... I didn't even know you had those."
Remus chuckled, pleased with his successful diversion tactic. "Well, now you know. And I believe our argument has come to an end."
James couldn't help but burst into laughter, realizing that Remus had indeed found a way to stop their heated debates.
"Well played, Moony!” cheered Pete from his bed.
Sirius finally regained his composure and playfully swatted Remus on the arm. Remus pulled him in for a hug and as foreseen showered his boyfriend with little kisses. "You sneaky, brilliant git. I can't believe you pulled that off." Laughed Sirius.
From that day on, whenever an argument threatened to escalate between Sirius and Remus, Remus would cheekily lift his shirt or flex his muscles, effectively diffusing the tension and bringing a smile to Sirius' face. It became a running joke among the Marauders and added a touch of humour to their daily lives at Hogwarts. And of course, this only encourage Sirius to bicker with Moony as often as possible.