When Severus arrived at the Great Hall for lunch, he immediately approached Madam Pomfrey, who was telling Professor McGonagall that Remus was doing much better.
"Is he well enough for visitors?" he asked without preamble.
Madam Pomfrey looked slightly taken aback. "Why... yes, I suppose so. But only for short periods at a time! He needs to rest before classes start."
Severus nodded, and was about to sit at his usual seat, when an idea occurred to him and he went back to Professor McGonagall, who was studying him with some curiosity. She was wondering why he, of all people, should wish to look in on Remus, who was not only a Gryffindor but a close friend of Potter and Black as well.
"Professor, are you by any chance familiar with Dust Bunny Slippers?" he asked with a serious expression. It was a credit to her profession that she did not burst out laughing at the unexpected words from the usually sullen Slytherin.
"Why, yes, I suppose I am," she answered, with only the slightest curve of her lips.
"I'm taking care of Lupin's pair," Severus explained, shocking all those within earshot, "and I don't think he realized that they were expecting. Both of them had litters last night."
"Oh!" McGonagall said, startled. "Are they doing well?"
"As far as I can see, yes. But I was more interested in neutering them. I'm not sure what the gestation period is for this kind of rabbit, but if we don't do something, I'm afraid they will breed indiscriminately. They're Lupin's rabbits, of course, but I think he would agree that it must be stopped. Especially since his roommates have males."
"Oh, dear," McGonagall sighed. "Yes, something must be done about that. I should have foreseen that anything Mr. Black brought in would cause problems!" She shook her head in resignation. "I will accompany you to visit Mr. Lupin this afternoon."
"I'll bring the rabbits, then," Severus agreed.
Dumbledore had been listening intently to their conversation. "Minerva, these Bunny Slippers were brought in by Sirius Black, you said?"
"Yes, Headmaster. I allowed it since they were Christmas gifts to his friends."
"Well, that's yet another hare-brained idea we can credit him for!" Dumbledore said, much to the delight of the few students left spending their holidays at Hogwarts.
Severus had gathered the rabbits -- all ten of them -- into two shoeboxes, and transported them to the hospital ward with the Locomotor charm. He had even sacrificed one of his tattered old undershirts for the cause, ripping it into strips to put inside the boxes and keep the rabbits comfortable. He was rewarded by the look of utter astonishment, then pure joy, that spread across Remus' drawn and pale face.
"Baby bunnies! How marvelous!" he exclaimed, struggling to get into a sitting position. Severus quickly set the boxes aside to help him, not realizing that Professor McGonagall had just entered the room behind his back.
"Careful! Don't overexert yourself, or you'll have to stay here longer," he warned, supporting the Gryffindor's thin body with both arms.
"I know, but BABIES, Severus! I didn't even know they could HAVE babies!"
The dark circles under his lover's eyes worried Severus more than he let on, but he was relieved somewhat to see that Remus was able to sit up and peer into the boxes, picking up each of the tiny creatures to stroke them in turn. They were so engrossed in the litters, Severus pointing out the patterns on their skin, that neither of them noticed McGonagall's presence until she delicately cleared her throat.
"I'm glad to see that you're doing better, Mr. Lupin," she said, greeting him with a warm smile. "So, here are the little bundles of joy Mr. Snape was telling us about," she added, picking up one of the checkerboard rabbits and holding it in a cupped hand. "Now, are you willing to have all of these neutered and spayed?"
"Neutered? Spayed?!?" Remus gasped, looking to Severus for answers.
"I'm sorry, Professor," Severus explained, "I hadn't gotten 'round to discussing that yet."
"Oh, I see," McGonagall nodded. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lupin, but as ADORABLE as these little ones are, I'm afraid we can't allow them to run amuck on the school premises. Technically, they are items of clothing, but if they continue to... procreate, there may be some question as to whether they are not, in fact, pets, and as such they would not be allowed at all."
Remus leaned back against the headboard and sighed. "I understand, Professor. I didn't know they actually COULD 'procreate,' and it certainly does make things more... complicated."
Severus knitted his brows together at how wan Remus looked, lying there exhausted from the slight effort he had made, but turned his attention back to McGonagall.
"Professor, are you able to do the procedures?"
"Yes, Mr. Snape, I've contacted the... manufacturer, to confirm the proper spells that must be used," she informed him, stopping just short of saying "breeder."
Remus looked up at her quickly. "It won't hurt them, will it?"
"I assure you, Mr. Lupin, they won't feel the slightest discomfort."
Remus nodded, satisfied. "Thank you. I wouldn't know what to do for them, myself."
Severus had noted how laboured his breathing had become, and removed the boxes from the bed, setting them down carefully in a chair, where McGonagall bent to return the one she held after a final stroke of its velvety back. When she turned back to the boys, she was startled to find that Severus was once more helping Remus, this time to lie down, plumping his pillow and tucking the blankets in around his shoulders.
"Don't worry," he was telling Remus. "You just rest. I'll take care of everything."
Remus gave him a tired smile and nodded.
"How curious," McGonagall remarked to herself. "I would never have believed Severus Snape capable of such... tenderness!" She was glad to think the better of him for it.
"Well then, Mr. Snape, if you would be so kind as to bring them to my office...?"
"Of course, Professor," he answered, pulling out his wand and casting the Locomotor charm on the boxes again. He cast a quick glance back at Remus as they exited the ward, satisfied to see that he was already drifting into a deep sleep, a small smile curving the corners of his mouth as he dreamed of tiny multicolored bunnies.