Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter; it all belongs to JK Rowling. I suppose I own the plot, in a way.

Summary: In dark times, prophecies predicted the rising of five who would have the power alone to defeat evil. They were the Pack.

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~ The Pack ~

Chapter Two: Secret of the Warrior

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"Well!" Ron finally broke the silence (as usual). "This isn't going to be as easy as we thought. By far, this Warrior's clues are the most cryptic and complicated."

Harry exhaled heavily. "He's right."

Hermione stared down at the parchment, and finally suggested rather wearily: "We've all worked hard today, and any more strain and we might drop dead - and that wouldn't do, would it? Maybe we should proceed and come back to who the Warrior could be after we've cracked the rest of this prophecy. Unless anyone wants to get some dinner and some sleep before getting back to this."

She personally wanted to finish this prophecy, because she didn't think she could sleep, no matter how tired, after all that they'd just discovered. Looking around, she saw that her companions felt the same.

"Okay," Harry peered down at the parchment. "Skipping the Warrior bit, and then the part where it says these five Gryffindors alone can possibly defeat Voldemort, it then says 'But they must beware, for there is no truth, / Only that the snake and the lion may not live as one'." He raised his eyebrows. "Not very encouraging, is it?"

Remus smiled slightly. "I think the prophecy is warning the reader not to place too much stock in what it says, because this gives us neither the means nor the power to defeat Voldemort, but only the knowledge that it's possible that we might."

"Mighty optimistic, aren't you, Moony?" Ron groaned.

There was some laughter at that, and Hermione smiled, but it was with very serious thoughts that she turned back to the prophecy. "'May not live as one' . . . doesn't that link back to Trelawney's prophecy about how Voldemort and Harry cannot survive while the other lives?"

They nodded. "I think we can safely say that's accurate," Remus agreed, and he sighed. "The rest of the prophecy is easy enough, it merely repeats the knowledge of the Gryffindors and calls them 'the Pack'. Which therefore only leaves us with - "

"The Warrior." Hermione muttered at the same time that Harry and Ron did. She shook her head. "Great. Then we might as well get to it."

They read the part about the Warrior once more:

And last is the Warrior, the defender of the pride,
Strong, he shall protect the lions with animal power;
He must be brought from the lair of the vampire.

"Well, we know he's strong and that he's the protector of the pack," Harry shrugged lamely.

"What else do we know?"

"He's a Gryffindor, already graduated - probably around the same time as you, Remus, because of the two generations thing."

They were silent for a moment, and then Hermione voiced what she was certain they were all thinking. "That doesn't help us much at all. Remus's year and those near it must have held at least fifty strong Gryffindors!"

"Yes, but not many of them are still alive." Remus murmured quietly.

Hermione glanced down, blinking back tears. She couldn't bear to think about it . . . she couldn't afford to start thinking about it. She glanced up at Harry and Ron, who were looking a little subdued, and forced herself to curb her thoughts.

"Let's get back to the clues." She said quickly, with a wan smile. "The location might help us, seeing as its been very useful for all the others."

Harry began to snigger. "Uh - I don't think so." He said, eliciting a chuckle from Remus.

"'He must be brought from the lair of the vampire'." Ron read, raising his eyebrows and looking revolted. "Oh come on! Tell me we don't have to fight alongside a vampire!"

Remus cleared his throat. "If I may be so bold as to comment, if you weren't acquainted with me, you wouldn't be so thrilled to work alongside a werewolf either. Whoever this vampire is, give him a chance."

Ron grinned. "You know what? You're right, but it's still weird."

"Sorry, guys, but I don't think you'll be fighting alongside an actual vampire any time soon," Hermione smirked, rather reluctant to burst Ron's bubble at becoming more 'accepting' of the magical creatures.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I mean, how many vampires do you guys know who were in Gryffindor - like, ever?"

Ron cleared his throat and Remus looked amused. "An excellent point."

"We're not going to get anywhere with this part," Hermione said slowly, reading it over again. "I mean 'the lair of the vampire'? Vampires don't necessarily have a specific lair, at least, not like rabbit's do."

Harry and Remus hastily smothered their laughter with coughs. Ron scowled good-naturedly. "I resent that."

"I think its time to call Dumbledore." Remus suggested, shrugging. "He might be able to help us with this one, and he'd be pleased to know Hermione worked out the prophecy so brilliantly."

Hermione felt her face grow hot, and tried not to feel pleased at praise that had grown so unfamiliar as of late. Instead, she looked up again. "None of us can Apparate into Hogwarts, so we can only ask him to come here." She stood up, and on a sudden thought, turned to the empty portrait on the wall, that they had moved earlier. "Phineus!" she called. "Phineus, are you there?"

They all watched the portrait, hoping for some sign that Sirius's great-great uncle would have paid them a visit.

"Yes?" an irritable voice finally spoke from the empty canvas. "What do the inhabitants of my worthless nephew's house want from me this time?"

"He wasn't worthless." Hermione snapped, furious.

"Forgive me, Mudblood." Phineus drawled. Remus was glowering at the canvas, and had been since the remark about Sirius, and Ron and Harry moved forward with their wands, but Hermione laid a restraining hand on each of their arms and shook her head.

Sighing, she said, "Could you please ask Professor Dumbledore to Apparate here right away, Phineus?" she asked in as calm a tone as she could manage. "It's very, very important."

"Isn't it always?" the Slytherin Headmaster drawled. "Now, should I do your bidding, or shouldn't I? After all, Dumbledore hasn't given me an order, has he? So why should I - ?"

"Now, Phineus!" Remus barked, making Ron jump in shock.

The wheezy cackle erupted from the portrait. "All right, Lupin, there's no need to lose your manners just because I insulted your best friend. I'll be off."

And there was silence. Ron stared at Remus in awe, whose expression softened slightly.

"He's ridiculous," Remus muttered in explanation. "He did care about Sirius, no matter how much he tries to insult him now, and he was upset when he - died. He just refuses to accept that a Slytherin dared to care about a Gryffindor."

"You can't exactly blame him, especially after reading a prophecy about the enmity like we just have," Ron pointed out. "Although I still think he's inexcusable vermin."

"I heard that, Freckles."

Hermione groaned, annoyed again. "Did you speak to Professor Dumbledore?" she demanded.

There was a Crack! and a familiar, gentle voice spoke with justa touch of its usual amusement: "I believe he did, Hermione. It's nice to see you again."

"Hello, Professor." Hermione smiled, turning around as they all did to face Dumbledore, who looked slightly tired, but his blue eyes twinkled like always. She picked up the parchment. "We managed to decode the language of the prophecy."

Remus cleared his throat. "Actually, Dumbledore, Hermione managed to decode the language. We all assisted in discovering its meaning, and I think you'll find it very interesting."

They spent the next half an hour showing Dumbledore the Bloodline Prophecy and explaining to him how they came to conclusions about who each of the members of the Pack were. He agreed with their theories, and seemed to be rather impressed. When they were done, he looked grave, but his eyes still held their humour.

"My, my," he said, "The Pack was sitting under our noses all this time, and we never knew it. Well done, all of you. Of course, you do realize what this means."

Ron gulped. "We'll have to do full-fledged battle."

There was some tension in the air at the thought, because none of them - except for Harry - had been prepared to bear the weight of the fate of the entire wizarding (and Muggle) world. They had to fight. And Hermione knew it was up to them to win.

"There's still the problem of the Warrior," Harry spoke up, tapping the parchment with his wand and emitting sparks. Hermione snatched the paper away, afraid Harry would accidentally destroy it.

Dumbledore focused carefully on the Warrior part, and Hermione could feel the suspense as their all silently waited to see what he could make of it. Remus appeared as calm as ever, but Hermione knew that he - like she was - was jittery inside. Ron was hopping from one foot to the other. Harry was cracking his knuckles and tapping his wand against the palm of the other hand.

"This is indeed cryptic," Dumbledore finally said after a long moment that felt like days. "But I believe I might have a theory - a very unusual, very unexpected theory that even I am having a hard time believing."

"What?" Ron looked like he might implode with excitement and suspense.

"The 'lair of the vampire', I believe, refers not specifically to the home of a vampire, but to its domain, it's classification."

Harry and Remus wore identical thoughtful frowns, but Hermione could see Ron was lost. "So, you mean, the 'lair' refers to what a vampire actually is?" she asked Dumbledore, trying to make it clearer for him.

"Quite right," he smiled. "And what do we all - and even Muggles, I believe - define vampires as?"

"Creatures." Ron blurted.

Hermione groaned. Harry grinned, and Remus said kindly: "I believe Professor Dumbledore means something more specific, along the lines of the Un-Dead, perhaps?" he asked, looking at Dumbledore.

"Precisely, the Un-Dead." Dumbledore agreed. "Which leads me to believe that this Warrior is a person caught between life and death, neither alive nor dead, but trapped in - a void, of sorts, and he 'must be brought' (as the prophecy says) from that void."

"But, Professor," Harry protested. "There must be over a million of these mysterious wizarding voids all over the world, and any Gryffindor could have ended up in any of them. How on earth can we pinpoint a certain one and find the Warrior?"

"Think of what you've just said, Harry," Dumbledore replied quietly, "And put your word - mysterious - into strong play."

Hermione looked at the prophecy and slowly, a theory began to work its way into her mind. But it seemed impossible . . . it seemed insane . . . she wasn't thinking straight, she couldn't be!

"Merlin's beard," Remus suddenly said, "Look at the last clue: 'protect the lions with animal power'."

"Couldn't that merely mean he's got raw, untamed strength and power?" Ron asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I think that's too much of a coincidence, Ron," Hermione said, shaking her head. "I think this prophecy is referring to actual ANIMAL power - which means - "

"That the Warrior is an Animagus." Remus finished weakly. "Dear God."

Hermione looked at Harry and saw him look from Dumbledore's serious, but gradually delighted expression, to Remus's face of incredulous hope, and finally he met her own eyes, and she saw the same understanding that had dawn on her appear there.

And for the first time in a long time, Hermione dared to hope.

Ron, however, appeared destined to remain at sea. "What?" he asked, puzzled, looking around at them all. "What's with the expressions? What did you guys figure out? Who's the Warrior?"

"Ron, you great stupid prat!" Harry chuckled, grinning broadly now. "Who in this world do you know who is a Gryffindor, an Animagus - "

"Professor McGonagall?" Ron interrupted, looking astounded, and earning laughter from Remus and Dumbledore.

" - and died under very unusual, inexplicable circumstances?" Harry finished, glaring at his best friend.

Ron blinked. And finally, Hermione saw light enter his eyes. "Merlin's beard!" he yelled. "It can't be!"

"Luna did tell me there was more to it than we thought," Harry murmured regretfully. "If only we're figured it out sooner."

"It's not too late." Dumbledore said gently. "So I suggest we get to work researching and figuring out the escape route."

Hermione felt a curious seedling of what felt astonishingly like ecstasy grow inside her. It's not too late . . .

"I don't believe this." Ron shook his head. "This is unbelievable. You can't be telling me that the last member of the Pack is him."

"Pretty suitable and accurate when you think about it, isn't it, Ron?" Remus smiled and Hermione couldn't help but mirror the expression. "The Warrior is none other than Sirius Black."


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TBC.

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A/N: I'm sure most people figured out who the Warrior would be (and I can only hope this is somewhat how Rowling ends Books 6 and 7). Thanks for reviewing so far (don't stop now!) and if there are any suggestions, I'd like to hear them. Enjoy the story!

Note to Bashful C: Yes, you can use the prophecy if you really want to, but maybe you could mention where you got the original from ('coz I guess it's kinda copyright ;-))