"Ah, Professor," Snape greeted him. "I was wondering when you would come around... for more."
Lupin smiled. "How could I resist?" he asked, licking his lips in a passionate thirst for what he desired to have once more. "You know how hard it is for me to stay away from the things that tempt me most."
"That I do," Snape replied. "Which is why it's so hard for me to keep my own excitement concealed when you're near. It's nearly impossible to do when you're around students like mine. They don't know this side of their Potions professor."
"I know." Lupin looked into Snape's eyes. "It wouldn't be a bad thing for you to show some compassion towards your students though."
Snape averted his eyes. "No," he whispered. His mind wandered back to the last time he'd shown any softness toward any other person... Back when he'd told Lily, Harry's murdered mother, how he felt about her. He had longed for her company, and hated James, Harry's murdered father, all the more when he discovered that he had won Lily's heart.
"It's too hard," he said, in a barely audible voice. "It's too hard to show people how you really feel."
They sat in silence for a moment. Lupin cleared his throat, snapping Snape back at attention.
"Oh, right," he said, taking off his robe. He set it on a desk and walked closer to Lupin. He reached into his pocket. "I learned how to do something new to it last night." His hand wrapped around the thing that Lupin desired most.
"Oh? Have you?" Lupin asked, licking his lips once more in nervous anticipation of what he wanted most.
Snape nodded, a sly smile creeped onto his face. "I think you'll find it... quite appealing."
"Please, Severus," Lupin nearly pleaded. "Don't make me wait any longer!"
Snape blushed, the pink tint on his cheeks making his skin look all the more sickly. "Oh alright."
He wrapped his hand around Lupin's favorite treat... and pulled out the candy cane!
"Wow!" Lupin exclaimed at seeing what he'd been talking about. At the curving spot on the candy cane was a ribbon, tied brilliantly into a bow. "You've outdone yourself! It looks beautiful!"
"Thank you, Remus," Snape said, beaming. "I hope you enjoy it. It's cherry, since you said you liked them most."
"You're a life saver, Severus, you really are! You know, the bow really does look brilliant. You could start your own decorating and sweets business with work like this!"
Snape handed Lupin the candy cane.
"Thank you so much, Severus!" Lupin exclaimed, pocketing the candy cane. "You're a wonderful friend," he said as he turned and walked out the door.
Snape sighed, enjoying for the moment, the feeling of making someone happy and let it overtake him. He then turned to stack of parchment that waited for him in a messy pile of parchment on the edge of his desk. He sighed and sat in his chair, ready to grade the week's homework.
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Happy Holidays everyone! Hope you weren't too disappointed by this!
-Trixen