"Is that the last of them?" McGonagall asked as Severus handed her another of the newborn rabbits.
"Yes. That is, if you don't count the pairs Black, Potter, and Pettigrew will be bringing back to school," he replied.
"I'll be sure to deal with them directly when they return, Mr. Snape," McGonagall answered, then cast the spell that rendered the tiny female infertile. She handed it back to him with a sigh of relief, and surveyed her handiwork. All ten of the rabbits seemed perfectly content, arranged in their boxes by Severus according to pattern. She had noted how carefully he had handled them during the procedures, assisting her by holding down some of the more active ones, and was impressed by how capable and calm he was for a first year. Watching him settle the last one next to its mother, she decided to ask something that had occurred to her earlier.
"I realize it is not my place to meddle in the affairs of other houses' students," she began, cocking her head to one side to see his face and gauge his reaction, "but I was wondering if you have discussed your plans for future employment with Professor Slughorn?"
"No, ma'am," he answered politely, wondering at the sudden turn of conversation.
"Well, if I may be so bold as to make a suggestion," she said, a faint smile softening her face with benevolence, "I think you should consider becoming a Healer."
The statement had come so unexpectedly that Severus openly stared at her. She nodded to assure him that she was serious.
"From what I hear, your marks in Potions have already made you a prime candidate to work in the finest of our apothecaries; however, if what I have seen today is any indication, I think you would do well with a more hands-on form of medicine. I must say, you had an excellent bedside manner with Mr. Lupin."
Unused to receiving compliments, especially from the Head of Gryffindor House, Severus could barely respond. "Th--Thank you."
"Naturally, a thorough knowledge of potions and the medicinal properties of herbs is essential to the practice of Healing," she continued. "You have a fine mind, Mr. Snape, and I should very much like to see it employed in such work as will utilize your talents to their utmost. Where that lies, specifically, will be up to you to discover, of course, but if I may be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to ask."
Stunned, Severus' eyes had widened to their fullest, and he was struck speechless by such high praise.
Realizing that a response was not soon forthcoming, McGonagall peered into the boxes for one last look at the rabbits, then smiled and added, "If they seem to have any adverse reactions, let me know at once. I'll be here for most of the day, and in my rooms after dinner."
Severus nodded, realizing that it was a courteous hint for him to leave, and managed to levitate the boxes with the rabbits again. As he reached the door of her office, he turned to look at her, his expression still that of greatest surprise.
"Thank you," he said, in a voice barely above a whisper.
"You're welcome," she answered, equally softly.
Her manner when she welcomed the three greatest troublemakers of her house back from the holidays was not so benign. Although Sirius claimed, with the most innocent of faces, that he had not known about the rabbits' capability to breed, he was severely reprimanded, and all of the remaining rabbits were spayed and neutered within the hour. This was met with gratitude by Peter, whose pair had also had litters over the break -- one with yellow-and-blue plaid, the other with yellow-and-black tiger stripes.
Despite their Head of House's fury, however, both Sirius and James had many laughs over the incident, and only wished that the bunnies had been born when they were all together in the dorms. Remus chose not to inform them that his had birthed in Severus' bed, thinking the hilarity of the situation might be more than their already-strained relationship with the Slytherin could endure.
"So, what are you going to do with them?" Severus asked, one evening as they stole a precious hour during the Gryffindor Quidditch practice, which James and Sirius never missed watching. Remus lovingly stroked the back of a pink-and-black polka dotted one, which had hopped its way up onto Severus' lap.
"I think I'll give them away, once they're weaned," he answered, somewhat wistfully. "I wish I could keep them all, but what good would that be? I can only wear one pair at a time, anyway."
"It's for the best," Severus agreed. "But who will you give them to?"
"This pair," Remus said, pointing to the harlequin patterned ones, which had added stripes as they grew, turning into argyles, "I think I'll offer to Professor McGonagall, since she took the trouble to neuter and spay them all. Do you think she'd accept them?"
"I don't see why not," he rejoined. "She liked them well enough when they didn't even have fur."
Remus laughed. "I like them better now that they're soft and fluffy, too... Then this pair," he continued, petting the checkerboard ones, "I'd like to send home to Mum."
"You couldn't do it by owl post, though," Severus cautioned. "No matter how well trained it is, an owl is going to try to eat them."
"I know. I'll have to send them special delivery, or take them home with me next time I go."
"What about these pink ones with the black dots?"
"Well, I was thinking..." he began slowly, carefully choosing his words. "Lily was so nice to me last term, helping me catch up after I was sick, and I thought it would be nice to give her a pair as a thank-you."
Severus gazed at the two very pink rabbits that were nosing their way around his lap. He was surprised that Remus could be so magnanimous, despite his confessed jealousy of Lily. But he had thought, himself, that the rabbit slippers would be a perfect gift for her, and although he was disappointed that HE would not be the one to provide them, he was still happy to know she would be enjoying them.
"I think that's a great idea," he answered, stroking them tenderly. "That leaves only one more pair..."
"Well, I had a special person in mind for those two." Remus looked up shyly at his lover. "After all, I wasn't even there to take care of them when they were born."
Realizing Remus' intent, Severus simply gaped at him.
"I know they've got pink polka dots," Remus admitted, "but they ARE mostly black. Would you wear them? Or... would they be... a bother?"
Severus looked at the two "mostly black" rabbits lying half asleep in Remus' lap.
"No," he finally said, shaking his head. "They'd be... no bother at all."