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HUGO & MONICA

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2

.:. MONICA ISABELLA STFENS .:.

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Before we continue the story, let me go back in time. I can't exactly tell how far back, but that doesn't matter. It's enough to say that our dear friend Hugo was still having his night sleep. Despite the late hours, our other protagonist wasn't even close to going to sleep...

"Exhausted," she said as she let herself fall on the dressing room bench. She took off her shoes and let herself enjoy the cold floor under her feet. Then she undressed from her scrubs and brought it to her nose to check. The usual stench.

"There is nothing worse then the third floor smell, right Monica?" laughed a girl who had just entered the dressing room, also taking off her scrubs, "It's probably the worst smelling floor of the whole St. Mungo's..."

"Not so sure about it, Samantha... There are some diseases on the second floor that don't have a very nice smell. I think I prefer the plant accidents over them..." said Monica as she went to her locker and changed her clothes, putting the ones she wore during her shift in a laundry bag. Hospital rule. There is nothing more dangerous than leaving the hospital with the scrubs... They could be contaminated with a thousand different things.

"Maybe... But I still rather work with the Spell Accident patients... Too bad I still have to wait another year," said Samantha, doing the same as Monica, "Do you want a ride home?"

"No, thank you" she answered as she closed her locker and grabbed her purse, "I'm going to the Leaky Cauldron to grab something to drink. Three patients vomited on me this night, I believe I deserve a shot of cognac. When is your next shift?"

"Three days from now," she smiled as she said, "And yours?"

"Not as lucky, two days. Many plans?"

"My boyfriend also has the days off, so we are gonna visit his parents," she said as they walked toward the employees exit, "And you?"

"I should not tell you, because you are going to envy me, but I will: I'll clean the flat." Samantha looked at her seriously but couldn't hold the laughter. Monica also couldn't hold a smile. Not that she hated cleaning, but she wouldn't mind to have planned a trip.

"Have fun!" said Samantha, saying goodbye to Monica as they left the hospital.

"You too," said Monica before they went their separate ways. She walked a little until she reached a safe place and then Apparated to Diagon Alley. She walked through the deserted streets, absently stopping at some windows to see the products and the sales. Some people strangely love to see what is for sale... All shops were still closed, except, like Monica used to say, the good old Leaky Cauldron where one can always find a good shot of alcohol to take away the tensions of the day. Or, in this case, of the night.

She crossed the gateway and entered the bar, the usual darkness warmly enveloping the costumers. She walked to the table she always sat at, but, before she did so, she saw a familiar face behind a drink and changed her mind, approaching him instead.

"Still here, Ryon?" she said as she sat beside the blond boy. He smiled and they both sat there in silence. Hannah Abbott, the innkeeper, aproached with the menu, but Monica ordered without even taking a look at it. As soon as her shot of cognac arrived, she said, "Sometimes it's not easy..."

"Hear hear..." said the boy, taking another gulp and filling the glass once more.

"Nothing could be done, then?" she said, also drinking, feeling the alcohol burn her throat.

"No... The boy will lose his hand..."

"It was not your fault. What could be done was done. Everybody knows that all the procedures were done right."

"I know. But it's still not easy when it happens with a child. I keep on asking myself if there was nothing else I could have done. I think I chose the wrong profession... I'm a disaster..."

"Do you know what is the problem? And I don't say that it's just your problem, it's the same with everyone who decides to become a healer. We want to solve all the problems of the world and we get restless when we can't do it." She took another sip, the drink started to feel sweeter. "As time goes by, we realize that we can't do everything and that is where you are now. Later on, we get used to it and are happy to be able to do at least something to soften their pain."

"You already are used to it then?" he laughed.

"Yeah..." she laughed, again taking another sip, and really starting to enjoy the taste of the drink, "Now I only come down to have a drink when the patients vomit at me from head to toe like tonight," she said, winking at him, "You will be a good healer, I'm sure."

"Thanks, Monica." He smiled and finished his drink, "I'll go home then. Maybe we'll bump into each other again."

"Sure, sure. In the middle of a hallway full of people!" She stood up and hugged him. "See you later!" After he left, she sat back and kept on enjoying the pleasures of a glass full of cognac. When she felt that her muscles were relaxed and saw that her legs could no longer be trusted, she took a deep breath and went to pay her bill. Everything was nice until she hit an unexpected obstacle: big, soft and warm...

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A.N.: Hi people! So liking it so far? I hope so! I will try to update as soon as possible. I have three more chapters written, but I still have to translate them to english. As soon as they are ready I'll post them! Oh! If you want to see me smiling just leave a message!

A.N.2: Now with a lovely beta-reader: Potterholic!