A Stranger Amongst Them

See disclaimer in chapter one.

Chapter two To be or not to be an Auror

The following Monday, Ginny reported to the Ministries Office of Admissions to apply for acceptance into their Auror training program. After two hours of filling out forms and taking written tests, She was ready for the practical exams. Two Auror officials tested her on reaction times, stressful situations, her wand abilities, and the spells she knew. They were quite impressed. They were even more impressed when she demonstrated her wordless and wandless spell casting abilities. She was quite encouraged by their reactions to her abilities. This just might work out ok she thought.

After showering in the girls Auror locker room, She was called to the medics treatment centre for her physical. They put her through all types of physical tests and blood tests. A Healer poked and prodded every part of her body, even places she didn't know she had. The Healer then passed his wand over all parts of her body many times. Each time his wand would glow a different color, or shoot out colored sparks. Two hours later, they handed her some papers, telling her to study them and come back tomorrow for their results and evaluation. She was excitedly encouraged.

That evening she was in a euphoric mood, and talked to Harry about everything they did to her. She was hyper and flying high, so much so that she had trouble calming down enough to sleep. Harry on the other hand couldn't stay awake, and fell asleep midway through Ginny's description of her physical. She hardly noticed.

The next day, Ginny reported to the Auror training office. Shortly, the director of training introduced himself and brought her into his private office. "Please have a seat Miss Weasley. I'll get right to the point. We were very impressed with your abilities, especially your spell and wand work. However," he paused and looked her disappointedly. "We found that your previous eye injuries have left you with a problem. Your peripheral vision on your left side is not up to acceptable standards. We noticed that when you were approached from the left your reflexes were slow to react, leaving you vulnerable to unseen attack. This would be deadly under combat conditions, not only for you, but also for your partner. So, unfortunately, we can not accept you into the program. We are very sorry, Miss Weasley, but it is for your own safety and the safety of others."

Ginny was crushed. Fighting back the tears, she stood and thanked the director for his forthrightness. She shook his hand and fled to find the nearest ladies room. There she collapsed in a torrent of tears. Her whole body shook. She couldn't believe it. "Why?"

she cried out. "Why can't I ever have any luck? Why does this keep happening to me? What am I supposed to do now?" Ginny remained in the wash room for what seemed an eternity. Forcing herself to stand, she washed the tears away and tried to regain her composure. "I have to get home." she said to the mirror." She found her way to the atrium and stepped into the floo. Crashing onto the floor of their home, she again erupted in an uncontrollable burst of tears. Suddenly she felt strong arms holding her. It was Harry.

"Harry, what are you doing here? You should be at work."

"Hi, love. The director told me the whole story. I looked for you everywhere, but couldn't find you. So I decided to wait for you here. I'm so sorry, Gin. I know that you really wanted this. I'm so sorry. I talked to the director to see if there was anything we could do. But he was adamant. He said that it was for your own safety. I'm so sorry Gin."

Ginny straightened up and brushed back the tears. "I know love. It just hit me hard. I should have known. I've known for some time that I have a vision problem in my left eye. I thought it would go away, but it didn't. I should have know better. I should never have tried."

Ginny wiped her face again, and took a deep breath. "They are right of course. I know that. Just give me a little time, and I will accept it."

They held each other there on the floor for a long time. Harry whispering soothing thoughts and stroked her hair. "I have to get back Gin, but I'll try to get home early. Why don't we go out to eat tonight. There is a new muggle restaurant in London I think you will like. How about it. Shall we?"

Ginny hugged him very close now, almost as if she was afraid to let him go. "Harry, I love you so much. I'm such a baby. I'm sorry to be like this. It's just that I had it all planed out. We would be working together, and I could share the experience with you. Now I'm just a stay-at-home little girl sitting here waiting for my lover to come home to me."

'Don't despair Gin. We, you, will find something, I'm sure. Why don't you relax for the rest of the day, and we'll do the restaurant thing as soon as I get home. Will you be ok for a few hours?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I think so. I'll take a nice long shower and then a nap. I'll be ok Harry, really. I know you have to get to work. Be home soon love, I'll be hungry. Better call that restaurant and tell them to stock up, ok."

"Right Gin. Sorry I have to get back." He kissed her passionately and said goodbye, disappearing into the floo.

Ginny took her shower and rapped only in a towel she walked to the front room and turned on the telly. Should be a move or something to watch before I fall asleep, she thought. She watched the last half of a sappy love story, falling asleep before it ended. A short time later she was awakened by the roar of a crowd. Confused, she sat bolt upright looked around for the source of the roar. Stupid me, she thought, it's only the telly. She settled back down, her eyes half heartedly focused on the scene in front of her.

The movie was called Ivanhoe, a medieval flick about Knights and ladies in waiting and lots of battles and sword fights. The scene she was watching had two Knights battling it out in an arena. Stereotypical good guy against the standard evil bad guy, the winner gets the girl. As the two combatants slugged it out, Ginny was about to shut it off when a lightning bolt flashed through her brain. She sat up and moved closer to the screen. She was mesmerized by what she saw. She sat on the edge of her seat and studied the two fighters very carefully, occasionally pausing the action, or rewinding and watching the same scene over again. "I can't believe it," she said out loud. She studied the action over and over again. Finally, she threw her hands in the air and let out a yell of joy. "That's it!" she cried out. "Their shields. They are defending themselves with their shields. In their left hands."

Ginny's revelation rocked her. Her brain was reeling. Her mind was talking to her. Why didn't I think of this before? she thought to herself. This opens a whole new set of possibilities. I need to make plans, research everything I can find about magical shields.

Just then Harry fire-called her. "Gin, would you mind if I invite Ron and Hermione to dine with us tonight? I thought that you would like some company."

"Yes Harry, that would be nice."

"Thanks Gin. See you about six."

Wow! she thought. Talk about coincidence. Hermione was on her mind the minute she thought about doing research. She made a mental note to talk to Hermione tonight.

End chapter two.