(A/N: Sorry about the wait I was a bit blank for this chappie. I also got very inspired for my other fic Ron in love. Beansie thank for your review. You are quite correct about the Marauders working on being animagi for three years reaching success in their fifth year but I don't think it will cause a problem with the fic, I'll explain. The three find out about Remus in year 1 they start work in year 2 and work through years 3 and 4. This totals 3 years of work and they will finally accomplish their goals when they arrive to school their fifth year. I hope this made sense, if it doesn't maybe it will in chapters to come.)
As the Monday of the four marauder's detention came to a close Sirius made the remark, "This has been the most boring day ever."
"I know what you're saying," agreed James, "no pranks and no Quidditch."
"Detention too," added Peter.
"Don't remind me," gloomed Sirius, "Not just detention, but detention with Gribble!"
"I'm sorry you're missing Quidditch practice," apologized Remus.
"It's no big deal," sighed Sirius, "Detention is a natural part of life."
After supper the three entered Professor Gribble's classroom.
"Glad to see you are not late," remarked Gribble.
"Potter I want you and Black to clean out the red cap tank with no magic. Pettigrew you'll be dusting off my collection of petrified dark creatures without magic. And finally Lupin, I was short a job for you so I requested that the house elves send up the silver so that it may be polished obviously without magic. Happy cleaning, I'll be back later to check on your progress."
"We best get started," sighed James grabbing a sponge to clean with, Sirius joining suit. Peter squeaked as he held a feather duster as far as possible from himself approaching the first item to be dusted. Peter was always frightened by Gribble's collection that is why he always sat on the opposite end of the room. Remus stood staring at the task that lay before him.
"Moony, why aren't you starting? The sooner we get done the sooner we can leave," remarked Sirius.
"It's silver," answered Remus.
"Your point?" asked Sirius.
"I can hardly touch it," explained Remus.
"Why?" asked Peter turning from his dusting.
"Silver can be deadly to a werewolf," explained Remus.
"Polishing the silver can kill you?" asked Peter shocked.
"No, the silver has to enter my blood streamed to kill me. That is why it is well know that a silver bullet can kill a werewolf."
"What's the problem then?" asked Sirius.
"This silver won't enter my blood stream but it is very painful to touch."
"Gribble knows that," mumbled James putting the picture together.
"That's not right!" burst out Sirius. He always hated it when a friend was mistreated; especially in ways such as Remus was being treated now.
"What am I to do about it?" asked Remus a little hopeless.
"Here take my job I'll do yours," offered James.
"What do we do about Gribble? He could be back at any time," asked Remus always being the thinker.
"Sirius you do Peter's job, Peter you be look out if you see Gribble coming let us know," instructed James.
Peter, who was wide-eyed and pale, nodded as he went over to the door to serve as look out.
"We'll switch back when Gribble approaches," explained James.
Remus nodded in agreement, he wasn't much for disregarding rules like this but it was his only chance, he could not polish that silver. After an hour's worth of work Peter came rushing in from the doorway hoarsely whispering, "Gribble's coming!"
"Positions everyone!" quietly called James, "Don't touch the silver unless you have to Moony!"
Everyone reached their positions just as Gribble walked into the room.
"I want to see some working here!" snapped Gribble.
Everyone obediently turned to their work. Remus slowly grabbed a fork, he breathed in a sharp breath of pain the moment his skin touched the silver.
"Problem Lupin?" asked Gribble venomously.
"No sir," answered Remus with gritted teeth picking up the polishing rag. Pain coursed up and down his arm.
Sirius growled under his breath like a dog ready to attack at any moment but James eyed him warning him not to act.
"I expect you four to be done by midnight I'll be back then to inspect you work," with that Gribble left the room.
Once he was gone Remus let go of the fork sighing in relief. A dull pain still ached in his arm.
"Moony, you all right?" asked James.
"I'll be ok," he answered clutching his arm, "I knew that it would hurt but I never knew it would hurt that much!"
"Now, do you believe me Moony when I say that Gribble is evil?" demanded Sirius.
Remus nodded still clutching his arm.
"Remus, you be look out now, Peter you come polish, Sirius you continue dusting and I'll work on the tank," instructed James.
Each went to their assigned work as it neared midnight Sirius finished dusting he joined James in his cleaning.
"Almost done," exasperated James, "Any sign of him Moony?"
"None," answered Moony his arm having stopped hurting long ago.
"How's it coming along Peter?"
"On the last piece," he squeaked.
"Gribble's coming," warned Remus.
"Done!" cried Peter.
"Same here," sighed James.
"One small problem," noted Remus.
"What's that?" asked Sirius.
"Peter is covered in polish," explained Remus.
"Great! We're done for!" explained Sirius.
"No we're not!" answered James his blue eyes alight, "Moony, I'm sorry for this but it's the only way."
Before Remus could say anything all went black. Remus remained unconscious for only a few minutes. When he came too, Gribble stood over him.
"What happened?" asked a confused Remus.
"Apparently you passed out," answered Gribble with apathy.
"I did?" asked Remus now even more confused.
James, Sirius and Peter all nodded in the affirmative.
"Wow," remarked Remus rubbing the back of his neck.
"Professor don't you think it best if we got Remus to the infirmary?" asked James.
"No, need," answered Gribble, "Getting him to his dormitory will suffice."
James and Sirius then took Remus under wing and guided him out. Once they were down the corridor the three followed by Peter leaned against the wall.
"I can't believe we pulled it off!" exclaimed Sirius half laughing, "It was genius sheer genius!"
"I wouldn't say genius," modestly waved James, "There were a few times I thought it wasn't going to work."
"Me too," agreed Sirius, "but it did!"
"Could someone tell me what just happened back there?" asked Remus.
"Remember that unconsciousness spell we tried to teach Peter?" asked James.
"Yeah," hesitantly agreed Remus.
"I had to cast that on you, and told Sirius and Peter to follow my lead."
"He barely finishes telling us this and Gribble enters the room," interjected Sirius.
"When he saw you unconscious and Peter coated in polish," continued James, "he demanded what happened."
"What did you say?" asked Remus slightly wide-eyed.
"I told him that we figured the fumes had gotten to you and Peter being done with his dusting early took over for you."
"He didn't seem to believe us at first," pointed Sirius.
"He asked why we didn't do anything when you passed out. I said that we didn't do anything because we didn't want to get into trouble for not having the work he assigned us done."
"He then stared each of us down to try to see if we were lying," added Sirius, "I thought for sure that Peter here was going to crack. He looked like a helpless worm on a hook."
"I was about to," admitted Peter, "but he turned to wake Moony up."
"Thing is you didn't," smiled Sirius placing Peter in a friendly headlock ruffling his hair, "That's all that matter! You were a worm on a hook but you wriggled your way free like one! Hey, maybe we should call you Worm."
"No, please, no!" protested Peter braking away. He wasn't too fond of nicknames, and who could blame him especially after the 'Peaty-Pie' incident.
"All right," agreed Sirius but after a short pause added, "Worm!"
"Hey!" cried Peter.
(A/N: I don't know when my next update will be I've been inspired to write more of my "Ron in Love" fic, but I do have some of the next chapter written and most of the ideas for it are there I just got to get it out on paper.)