A/N: Ok, so it's a badly kept secret that I'm a huge Harmony fan. Usually I try to cut out the whole 'is it a crush' crap because I personally find it rather boring. But I'm not going to jump into their relationship in this story.

Chapter 4: How the Prides work

Hermione Granger couldn't help but feel worried as she strolled onto the platform of 9¾. The war had started again and now her parents were worried. Of course she couldn't really blame her parents for being worried; they would be targets because of her blood status and for her association with so called 'blood traitors'. Her life was so complicated until that letter came to explain it all. Hermione couldn't believe there was such a thing as magic at first as her own analytical brain wouldn't allow her to. But once she saw Diagon Alley, she was convinced.

That had been five years ago and in that time she couldn't believe how much had changed. Her friends were all very close to her, mostly since they were all female. Hermione never bought into the stay within your house bullshit most the students pushed her into believing. Most her friends were from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, with one or two Slytherins and Gryffindors thrown in for good measure. It was a large and very multicultural group of people and Hermione loved that they all managed to get along.

One thing that had her confused was the news of the Prides and their possible involvement in the war. In all her time in the Wizarding World she had never heard of such things, which really annoyed her. But then again the information was always tightly controlled by pureblood bigots that didn't really want people like her to know about their world. Her friend Daphne had explained that the Prides were the so called Protectors of the Wizarding World and would help against any Dark Lord. It made sense to her in that sense, there would have to be some form of NATO for the Magical World. But were this Prides part of the I.C.W? She would have to contact Daphne on more information. As she moved towards the train she bumped into someone.

"I'm so sorry." She apologised, helping him up. He had raven black hair with the most vibrant green eyes she had ever seen in her life. But it was his attire that confused her. He wore a black tank top with three gold rings adorning his upper arms on each arm. His skin was tanned and his voice had a soft accent that reminded her of old Shakespearean plays. He gave her a lopsided grin that made her blush slightly.

"Think nothing of it, miss." Harry bowed his head to her. "I was just admiring the train and wasn't watching where I was going." He chuckled weakly.

"No, I wasn't looking where I was going either." Hermione said softly. "My name is Hermione by the way. Are you a new student?"

"I'm a transfer student, yes." Harry nodded. "My name is Harry James Potter." He bowed slightly, his hand resting on his chest.

"You're Harry Potter? Everyone keeps talking about you." Hermione frowned a little. She thought for a moment. Where had she heard that name? Then it hit her. "You're a Pride member, aren't you?!" She asked excitedly.

"Yes." Harry raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Muggleborn?" He guessed with a soft smile.

"Um...yes actually. How did you know that?"

Harry chuckled slightly, standing on the train with her. "Half-bloods and purebloods usually cower when they see a Pride member. We tend to be a little...intimidating." He smirked again, though to Hermione it didn't seem like an arrogant smirk.

Hermione couldn't help but raise her eyebrow as he spoke. His voice gave him an air of confidence without the usual arrogance or narcissism that usually followed. "And why would you be intimidating, Mr. Potter?" Harry clenched his fist, making the blades on his right arm extend. "Sweet Morgana's tits, what are they?!" Hermione called out with an audible gulp.

"Just my weapon of choice, they are called the Blades of Avalon." Harry laughed, dissipating the blades and walking with her. He stuck his head in multiple compartments to check on his two brothers and sister.

"May I...may I ask you some questions about the Prides?" Hermione asked timidly.

"Sure, as long as you don't pee yourself, sure." Harry laughed a little, walking into a compartment with her. He sat down across from her, locking the compartment magically. "I apologise, but I really value my privacy." He explained, crossing his legs as he sat. "Now, what exactly would you like to know about the Prides?"

"Well...everything really." Hermione admitted. "There's literally no information about them. My friends knew little things, but I can't really depend on others accounts of a different culture."

Harry nodded a little, smiling. "That's a rational way to think about things." He said softly, messing with the rings around his right arm. "Our story started a long time ago...back when Hogwarts was still young, and there was no known King of England." He explained. "Merlin had begun helping a young man by the name of Arthur by lending him the sword of Godric Gryffindor." He opened his trunk, pulling out a flask of tea and two cups. He handed her a cup of tea and relaxed with his own. "As a gift, Merlin was granted permission to take a selection of his followers and leave magical England...which was still raw over the betrayal of Salazar Slytherin." He sipped his tea.

"Where did they go?" Hermione asked, her tea remaining untouched as she listened to him.

"They relocated to a small island in the centre of the Caribbean sea, in what you would know as Jamaica." Harry chuckled a little. "A large part of it was separated away and magically suspended into the ocean." He stopped for a moment. "Have you heard about our ways of marriage, Hermione?"

Hermione thought for a moment as something Daphne said popped into her head. 'Weirdest thing is they seem to take multiple wives. No one's really sure why though.' Of course, they were polygamists. "You're polygamists, aren't you?"

"We're more polyamorous than anything to be honest with you." Harry chuckled. "When Merlin created Avalon, he created a powerful ward system to go with it." He sipped on his tea again. "Known to us as the Three Pillars, it is the most intricate ward system ever created by man. While under construction, Merlin nearly died from magical exhaustion. According to our history books, three of Merlin's female disciples began to help him with the work. When the pillars were finally in place, the cores of all four involved began to magically interlock, creating the first marriage of the Prides." He took off the three rings from his left arm.

"The first pillar, which kept the island safe, was activated by Hecta's love for Merlin and kept the island hidden from those who would cause us harm. The second pillar, which protected the first, was activated by Mary's love for Merlin and Hecta and ensured that the land would be fertile for planting. The third pillar, which stopped all three from collapsing, was activated by Juliette's love for all three of her partners and calmed the savage beasts of the island." He recited the story he had heard since he was a child. "After a while, the others on the island asked for permission to marry the same as Merlin, since he and his wives were so happy."

Hermione raised an eyebrow for a moment. "Ok...how are Prides the 'Protectors of the Magical World'?"

Harry gave another chuckle, though this one seemed to be more amusing than the others. "It's a given title. We're actually considered it because of..." He clicked his tongue. "This is where it gets sort of tricky. My people do not believe in blood purity, but we do believe in purity." He said softly.

Hermione was pretty sure her eyebrow would be permanently stuck in its raised position if he kept talking like this. "Please for Merlin's sake explain what you mean!"

Harry placed the gold rings back on his arm. "It's simple really. There are not a lot of Pride members out there. Out of the nearly 5.5 billion people on the earth today, only 50,000 are Pride members. Now, out of that 5,000 only about 2,400 are born into Prides." He sipped the last of his tea, taking out some sandwiches. "Would you like a sandwich?" He asked politely.

Hermione smiled, taking a cheese one. "Thank you. They never think of putting healthy foods on this train." She explained, taking a small bite. "So, what does your purity involve?"

Harry took out a small orb from his backpack. "This is a special item, made at the start of the Renaissance for our people. It's mass produced now and we all carry a few with us." He held it out to her. "All you have to do is cut your finger and place a few drops of blood into the orb. It will examine everything about your body."

Hermione nodded a little, glancing at the item. "What happens after the examination?" She asked softly.

Harry poured two more cups of tea as he thought about the answer. "Well, that depends on the result of the examination, Hermione. We can't take people with certain anomalies in the bloodlines. As a species, we tend to think of ourselves as new humans. Take my bloodline for example. I hold a combination of giant, goblin, Veela and Muggle blood within my veins as well as the regular magical blood from a magical human."

Hermione couldn't help but be intrigued now. What would the orb say about her? "Doesn't love come into the equation?" She asked softly.

"It does. We try never to marry for purity, though it is an important part of the lifestyle we live." Harry wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Though there are wars between the remaining five Prides and the most common way for a war to end is marriage. My father married his first wife after the end of a war."

"Wow. That's...really old school." Hermione laughed a little, sipping her tea. "What about you? Have you any wives, Mr. Potter?" She asked with an interested look.

"No. I only recently became of marrying age. Sixteen is the age of ascension in our culture, the age of which we forge our rings." Harry gave a small yawn a little as he spoke. "Apologies, I've had a long journey today." He chuckled weakly. "It's why I've been given my orbs." He explained. "I have ten, in case I find any suitors."

"I see." Hermione finished her tea, relaxing into the bench. "W-Would you mind if I tried to see if I'm worthy? It's a curiosity I have to try..."

"Of course you can." Harry laughed a little. He tossed her the orb. "There's a needle on the top, just prick your finger and we'll see what it says."

Hermione nodded weakly as she did what he said. She winced as the needle pricked her skin and watched in fascination when her blood entered the orb. It began to glow and rise from her hands, creating a 3D copy of her out of magic in front of them. She couldn't help but blush a little as she noticed it was sans clothing. The image of her cleared its throat softly.

Subject's name: Hermione Jean Granger

Age: 16 years, eleven months, two weeks

Lineage: Muggle

Body's health: 1.5% chance of being sterilise, increased intelligence and magical abilities. Several small anomalies in the bloodstreams, analysing...potions found. One potion is used for period relief which doubles as birth control. The second potion seems to be used as a multivitamin. The third is an unknown pathogen potion, airborne in nature.

Compatibility in Pride Avalon: 93.5%

Chances of pregnancy: 98.5%

Examining brain functions...the subject does contain small feelings for members of the same sex, though it seems to be mostly platonic.

"Bloody hell! Could it give you any more personal information?!" Hermione was deep red when the 3D model mentioned that.

Subject's menstruation cycle began two days ago.

"I had to ask..." Hermione mumbled, rubbing her forehead.

Harry laughed at her discomfort. "I live with six women who are of menstruating age. It's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"I know...but that bloody thing's after making me feel really...open." Hermione explained.

Harry cut his finger, tossing an orb up with his blood in it.

Subject name: Harry James Potter

Age: 16 years, one month, one week

Lineage: Magical, Veela, Giant, Goblin, Muggle, small amounts of the now extinct high elves.

Body's health: Subject is at peak physical fitness but holds a Horcrux within his soul. The parasitic lifeform leeches off 15% of the subject's magic and a further 5% of his psychological wellbeing. Ritualistic scarring is present on the back, forehead, legs and torso to keep the Horcrux dormant. Small scar on the upper thigh consistent with Blades of Avalon spell.

Compatibility in Pride Avalon: 100%

Chances of impregnating females: 100%

Examining brain functions...subject holds impressive mental stimulus from use of meditating techniques mixed in with several different herbs for mental relaxation. Subject holds small amounts of psychological anger towards the nation of England.

"Now we're even." Harry said with a chuckle.

Hermione smiled weakly at him. Any other boy would have laughed at her or ogled at the image. But he was polite enough to keep his head away and just listen to what her model had said. "Thank you, Harry. But you were explaining the Protector of the Wizarding World title."

Harry nodded. "Well, the simple fact is that because of our strict entrance to the Prides, our people are able to withstand multiple attacks." He grinned a little. "We're the ones who would always help whenever a wife's homeland was in trouble." He put the empty flask back into his backpack and relaxed. "Now, about the whole Protector title...it was first given to us in Italy in 1455."

"I see, and the entire world has stuck you with that moniker ever since." Hermione nodded her head.

"Yeah...basically." Harry chuckled.

"This has been very educational, Mr. Potter...but I have to go on my Prefect rounds now." Hermione smiled to him.

Harry unlocked the door, nodding his head. "It's been a pleasure, Miss Granger." He held his arm out. "Extend your arm out and cross it with mine, it's the Pride equivalent of shaking hands."

A/N2: I made this chapter to explain everything I could about the Prides and to give everyone an understanding of their overall traditions and culture. I'll explain more of it chapter to chapter and I hope that you'll all enjoy it.