*4*

"That was worse than Binns!" Ron exclaimed as he fled the muggle history class. "Imagine them teaching together." Kristen and Allie laughed.

"Yea, Mr. Cobblestien is pretty boring. Students used to joke that the only way he could be more boring is if he was dead." Kristen said as the group walked down the stairs.

"You actually joke about that? Wait until you get to the Wizardry History class." Ron said with a smile.

"What does everyone have next?" Harry asked holding his parchment up.

"Divination, I'll see you guys later." Ginny said before giving Harry a quick kiss.

"Mine says P.E. What's P.E?" Ron asked.

"Physical Education." Harry and Hermione said in unison, clearly dreading the fact that Hogwarts had adding that class to the curriculum. The group slowly made their way down to the Quidditch pitch. As the pitch came into view Ron enjoyed explaining to Kristen and Allie all about the greatest game that ever lived, at least according to him. But the closer they got, the worse Harry felt. His heart was in his throat and he could feel it beating a mile a minute. He had hated P.E. He was never picked for a team or when forced upon a team, not included. In games like dodgeball, Dudley and his friends would gang up on him. Sometimes hitting him with more than six balls at a time. Harry shook his head and breathed out heavily.

"You're not ten anymore." Hermione whispered to him as Ron continued his explanation, now adding hand movements.

"I know." Harry whispered. "I just never thought I'd see any of them again."

"Even so, you're not ten. You're not that little boy who was afraid of them. You're older, bigger and wiser. You can handle them." Hermione said trying to give Harry an encouraging smile. Harry tried a smile back, but his heartbeat was still going full force. As they entered the field, a teacher Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't recognize came charging to them.

"Names?" She practically shouted.

"Potter."

"Weasley."

"Granger."

"Thank you. Nice to see you again Kristen and Allie. Your gym uniforms are in your lockers with your names on them. You have 5 minutes to dress before joining me here." She pointed to the locker rooms before quickly walking up to another group of students. Ron and Harry left the girls to go to the boy's locker room. Ron kept blabbing about how could muggles never play a game as exciting as Quidditch, but Harry wasn't really listening. He nodded as they walked into the room. You're not ten anymore, he thought as he quickly turned right going towards his locker. As he opened it, he saw Dean's and Seamus' lockers were directly next to his and Ron's.

"Hey Harry." Dean said with a huge smile. "I've been telling Seamus all about Muggle sports. I'm looking forward to baseball, haven't played it in ages. When was the last time you played?"

"Um. Probably gym class when I was ten." Harry said. Ron pulled his gym clothes out as he turned to Dean, clearly confused."

"What's baseball?"

"It's like Beaters, but with skinner bats, no brooms, and bases." Harry off handedly said. He looked past Dean and noticed that some of the Muggle boys were looking in his direction snickering. For a moment, he was ten again. Being pants in front of everyone and having his head shoved and held in the toilet. He turned away quickly, but Dean had already noticed his worried look.

"You're from Surrey, right?" Dean asked concerned. Harry nodded quickly seeming to be so concerned with his shoelaces.

"Hey Scarhead!" A boy called as a few other boys continued snickering.

"You ready for gym. Haven't had it with you in a while." Some of the muggle boys laughed. Harry didn't look in their direction as he shut his locker door. He had decided to ignore them.

"You remember?" The boy taunted, again the boys laughed. Harry started to head for the door, but before he passed the lockers he was shoved violently against the lockers.

"Don't ignore me Scarhead." The boy mocked.

"Back off." Dean snarled at the boy in front of Harry. The boy looked at Dean who stood nearly six inches taller. He was about to come back with a remark when he noticed Ron and Seamus standing behind him.

"I said back off." Dean took a step towards the boy as he snarled. As a few muggle boys started walking forward they heard a loud "Let's go!" come from the door.

"Better watch your back Potter." The boy hissed before shoving his shoulder into Harry's and walking out with his gang.

"You ok mate?" Dean asked, the anger had completely left his face all that remained was a slightly worried tone.

"Yea, thank you." Harry rubbed her shoulder.

"No problem. No one messes with my friends." Dean said as he started to walk to the door. Seamus gave Harry a serious nod, before following Dean, but Harry still felt a little shaky. He had hoped being older and at a school of magic would have helped. Or at least keep them at bay until he could wrap his mind around them invading his school, his safe zone.

"I have your back." Harry turned to face Ron. "If we could handle Voldemort, we can handle some muggles." Harry let out a breath, he hadn't known he was holding. Ron was right, what was a group of muggles compared to Voldemort. And anyway, he had friends now, something he didn't have before.

"But what's the point?" Seamus asked as the group lay on the new metal bleachers. It was their free period and the boys knew Harry was in no rush to enter the locker room.

"To kick the ball and score." Dean said for the upmost time. He began to rub his temples in annoyance. Harry wondered if teaching wizards to play soccer would ruin the game for him.

"But there's only one ball." Ron said, clearly not understanding the game yet.

"Makes it a bit boring." Seamus said as he lay down on the bleachers.

"Just because there's one ball doesn't make it boring." Dean defended.

"But it isn't even in the air."

"It's a muggle sport, they can't fly!" Shouted Dean. Harry couldn't help but laugh as he leaned again the bleachers.

"Hey Harry." A muggle boy with a thin face and light brown hair walked up to the bleachers, his friend group stood a few feet away. Harry smiled, immediately remembering him.

"Be careful opening your locker. They've put something in it."

"Thanks Marcus." Harry smiled. Marcus had never been his friend in Surrey, but he was always nice when Dudley wasn't around and if things got physical, he was always the one to alert their teacher. Marcus nodded, before turning back to his friends. Harry looked over to them. He recognized a few of their faces, but couldn't remember their names. They watched him as Marcus returned. Some looked nervous for Marcus, talking with a wizard, and others interested? Others, Harry couldn't tell how they felt.

"Seamus, any ideas?" Harry asked, watching the group of muggle boys laughing as they walked out of the locker rooms.

"How big you thinking? Lockers or dorm rooms?" Seamus smiled gleefully.

"Dorm rooms."

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has favorited my story. I can't believe how many have and only with a few chapters up! Thank you Fast Frank, lizzie1914, Millie15128, Juxshoa and Darcy001 for reviewing. Please leave a review! Thank you!