A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Auction Day 4 Prompt 4: (hint) Druid -Prompt – Vet!AU

Word Count: 1063

Dr. Nymphadora Tonks looked up as the doors to her small veterinary clinic flew open. A man rushed in, a limp black pile of fur in his arms. His sandy brown hair was plastered to his face. His clothes, a button down shirt, tie, and pair of khaki slacks were drenched from the storm that raged outside.

"Please, someone, help!" he yelled. Tonks watched her assistant Pansy start to call security. She could understand her actions. This man appeared completely disheveled and distraught. He could easily be dangerous. Tonks raised her hand, telling Pansy to stop.

"Can I help you, sir?" she asked, taking a step from behind the desk. The man looked at her.

"Please, you need to save him! He's all I have!" the man sobbed, his tears mixing with the rain water trailing down his face. Tonks looked at the limp creature, a dog, and nodded.

"Bring him this way, please, Mister ?" Tonks asked, leading the man and his dog to the nearest exam room. She motioned for him to place the animal on the table. He gently set the furry dog down.

"Lupin, Remus Lupin. This is Padfoot," he said.

"What happened?"

"There was a car. He was on his leash! The car... the rain... it just," Remus sobbed.

"It flew onto the sidewalk and hit Padfoot?" she asked. She was already examining the dog.

"Yes."

"Where did it hit," she paused, looking down at Padfoot. "him?"

"The back hind quarters, he just... I can still hear him screaming, yelping. The car spun out, and then it was back on the road, like nothing happened."

"Were you hit?"

"Me? No, just Padfoot. Can you help him? Please, doctor..."
"Tonks, call me Tonks. I'm going to do my best. Stay right here while I get the portable x-ray. I want to see how much damage the car did. Have you called the police?"

"No, I ran straight here."

"It's alright, you were concerned about Padfoot, I'll be right back," Tonks stated, slipping from the room. Pansy was waiting for her.

"Everything alright?"

"It's fine, Pansy. Mr. Lupin's dog was hit by a car. I'm going to get the portable x-ray, see if there's anything we can do. He's not unstable, just extremely upset."

"Good, because I could have taken him," Pansy laughed, posing in a karate pose. Tonks shook her head, grabbed the machine and headed back into the exam room.

"How's he doing?" she asked, noticing Mr. Lupin standing next to Padfoot, petting him. The dog had been unconscious when they'd arrived.

"He's been whimpering a little, but other than that, nothing."

"He's still breathing, so that's something," she commented, setting up the machine and putting over Padfoot's prone body. She flipped it on, looking at the images. "Alright, good news, Mr. Lupin, his vital organs were not damaged. He does have a broken hip and leg. He is one extremely lucky dog."

Remus laughed loudly causing Tonks to look up at him.

"Padfoot has always been a lucky dog. He was almost put down at the shelter where I found him. He got bit by a rat, got an infection and survived a twelve day quarantine, he's just always managed to scrap by somehow.

"Looks like his luck held out this time too. I'm going to have to do surgery to fix his hip and leg."

"He's going to be alright?" Remus asked.

"I can't say for sure, not until after the surgery."

"Whatever it takes," Remus stated. "Money is no object," he added. Tonks nodded and started to prep Padfoot for surgery.

Tonks washed her hands, leaving her gown in the rubbish bin. It hadn't been a difficult surgery, but to her it had felt different. The idea of failing, of disappointing Mr. Lupin just made her heart pound. She didn't think he would hurt her if she'd failed, no, he'd accept it. That broke her heart even more. Finally, she stepped out of the room. Remus had been pacing back and forth, not able to stand or sit still until he knew the fate of his best friend. He rushed to Tonks.

"Padfoot is going to be just fine," she announced. "He will probably walk with a bit of a limp, but he will walk again. I can't guarantee he'll be chasing after sticks, but -" Tonks was interrupted by Remus throwing his arms around her and hugging her. She stood there, slightly shocked. Remus blinked, realizing he was hugging a complete stranger. He released her and looked at the ground. Tonks smiled at him. He was cute, the way he was so worried about Padfoot was adorable.

"Usually people just say 'thank you'," Tonks laughed.

"There's just no way words could express my feelings," Remus said. "You saved my best friend, there's no way I could ever repay you. I mean, yes I'll pay the bill, but it's a small cost of having Padfoot with me," he rambled.

"He'll be asleep for a few more hours. There's going to be a lot of physical therapy to get him back on his paws again."

"And you'll be there to help him?"

"Yes, he can do all that here. We have a small lab with the exercise equipment he'll need. Would you like to go see him?"

"Yes, please."

Tonks led Remus to the recovery room where Padfoot was sound asleep, his tongue hanging out of his mouth, and drool soaking the blanket. Tonks laughed looking at the dog.

"He's really something," she commented. Remus nodded.

"That he is, that he really is. Thank you, Tonks. I wish I could find a way to express how I feel, about both your skills as a vet and about how beautiful you are right now," Remus rambled, watching Padfoot sleep. Tonks shook her head, smiling.

"You could always take me to dinner," she joked. "I mean, after Padfoot is cleared and released. I wouldn't want anyone getting the idea I date my patients."

"That would be nice," Remus agreed. "So, Tonks, after Padfoot is back to himself, want to join me walking him through the park and maybe stop at the ice cream cart for a cone?" he asked.

"Mr. Lupin-"

"Remus, please, call me Remus."

"Alright then, Remus, I would love to," she replied as Padfoot let out a loud snore causing both of them to laugh.