Down This Road-Zero Down

Another day, another dollar, another bill collecting caller.

Disillusioned, let down, cause all my heroes are junkies now.

I've been down this road, in the end it's all the same,

another day I'm getting older, another day nothing has changed.

Chapter Two

"Healer granger? There is a memo for you!"

"Healer Granger? A new memo again"

"Healer Granger! You have to sign the permission form for Martha."

Well, that's my daily routine." Can you all speak one at a time!" I yell exasperatedly. It's the fourth time in the day that I have lost control of my anger, and I regret that immediately.

"Memos later, permission slip first." I say with an apologizing smile as my co-workers, or nurses to be exact and better explaining, look at me with slight fear. I don't usually lose temper. But when I do, I go haywire. Perhaps that is the reason why one squeaked uncharastically when I yelled. Unfortunately, I don't have the energy to be angry anymore.

I sign the permission slip, and give Martha a hug, as usual. Every Saturday, Martha, my 11-year-old patient, goes out for shopping at diagon alley, the best place on earth according to her.

Martha is the most jovial patient I've ever had. She is easy to talk to, co-operative and so sweet that sometimes when she fails to take her potions and I try to scold her, I don't have the heart to. But even though she is eleven, Martha is aloof from the rest of the children who would now be attending hogwarts.

Being the naughty one of the lot, Martha ended up spilling a mixture of potions upon her. The result wasn't pretty, and it took weeks to get back her mangled body into shape. Now, she is on regular observation. So, she leaves for hogwarts next year. And that is the time I dread.

I watch as Martha rushes out of hospital, with a nurse close by her side."Alright, now the memos." I say finally as she disappears.

I read through both the memos. Both are the same. Asking me to urgently meet the head healer. Sighing, I dissapparate to his office with a 'pop'

"May I come in?" I ask in what I suppose is a soft tone. The head Healer, Hedgewick, is quite a character actually. Always preferring to hear people meek and soft in front of him. I oblige willingly, because apart from this, he is one of the finest people around.

Perhaps the reason to his odd preference is the fact that he looks anything but intimidating. Shorter than most of the people around, rather chubby and a good-natured face aren't the ideal qualities for being a person everyone fears. But that is just a perhaps what I think.

"Ah yes, healer Granger. Come in come in…"he said distractedly, while searching for something. I step inside and grab the second chair from the row in front of his desk, waiting for the reason as to why he wants to talk to me. And the waiting gets rather long. Not knowing what to say to break the silence and get the Head Healer's attention on to me, I grab the latest copy of the potions journal on his desk and flip around with it.

Finally, he speaks up." Well, you have another case at hand."Hedgewick announces in a tired voice, bringing a frown instantly to my face. That's the result of two things. For one, his dismissive and tired voice, and for second, that I already had charge of two other patients. I open my mouth to protest but he cuts me off before I can say a word.

"I know you have Martha and Mallory as your patients. But Mallory has improved greatly, and we can almost discharge her. So she is now under Healer Black for the rest of her observation period. Now don't argue Hermione."He adds, dropping the profession tone of his voice," The patient I'm handing to you is a serious long-term case. The Healers at Podmore have done no good to the man, and he needs severe help."

And there, he has struck a chord. You see, one of weaknesses is pity for people. And that gets me mellowed down and ready to do anything. It's a product of the war again. All the deaths that I have seen want to make me save every life I can. It's not possible, I know, but that doesn't stop me from trying anyhow. I nod slightly and then ask," Can I have the case file?"

The patient is a very bad state indeed. What I can make out easily, he has severe spine injuries, several fractures, a disfigured face and speech and memory loss. They send a shudder down my spine, and a determination to get this person right too. Thankfully, mending all this is possible with magic...and care.

I look up from the file and nod again, ready for the task. Hedgewick gives me a tired yet genuine smile, like he always does whenever a new patient comes under my charge." We've put him in the special ward. Room 24.Good luck."

A/N: Please Review! It helps me improve