It wasn't long before Tom was making his way towards him and Harry cursed silently. He had been prepared for a confrontation, but he had been hoping to avoid it.

He felt Tom's presence encompass him like nothing else as he stepped close to him. There was no denying the electricity between them…the sparks that flew whenever they were in proximity. He wondered if Tom felt everything he felt. If he did, then it was a dead giveaway of his identity. He found himself grinning and extending his hand to shake Tom's. He was glad he had gloves on because Tom might have recognized his touch. Tom smiled as he took his head and spoke,

"I've been hearing a lot about you, Mr. Carter… It seems your skills are rather unparalleled."

Harry feigned modesty as he spoke,

"Passion in the job puts perfection in the work, Mr. Voldemort."

Tom chuckled softly as he released his hand and gestured to Bellatrix,

"This is Bellatrix Lestrange…My personal assistant."

Harry finally turned his attention to her and studied her as thoroughly as he could as he took her hand and kissed it. There wasn't a single mark on her and that disconcerted him. How was she possibly alive?

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lestrange."

He met her gaze, looking for any signs that might tell him that she recognized him but there were none. Did she really not remember him or was she a good actor?

He released her hand and turned his gaze back to Tom,

"There were some rumours going on a while ago but it seems that they were after all rumours."

Tom's smile brightened and his grin widened mischievously as he spoke,

"Ah, yes… There were some who claimed to have killed my Bella but as you and everyone else can see, she is alive and well."

Harry merely nodded but he was dying to know how Tom had brought her back,

"But enough about that… I would like to acquire your services for a project I have underway."

Harry pretended to be interested as he leaned closer to Tom. There was something alluring about his scent. It was smoky, spicy and completely and utterly masculine all at the same time,

"What type of project?"

Tom smoothed a hand down the lapel of his jacket and Harry felt the way his stomach dropped at the contact and butterflies filled his insides. Tom took another step closer and inclined his head towards his ear. Harry resisted the urge to shiver as Tom's breath ghosted over his skin and his velvety smooth voice washed over him,

"Why don't we find somewhere private to get acquainted?"

Acquainted? No… The sensuality in Tom's tone told him exactly what he meant by getting acquainted. He was just about to decline when Tom rested a finger under his chin and tipped his head back to meet his gaze. He wasn't ready for the unguarded lust and wicked intent that gleamed in Tom's eyes,

"I know you want it, Mr. Carter."

Harry tried to fight the fog that was enveloping his mind. When had he grown so weak? Where were all of his defences? This was not who he was…He could never be so weak and vulnerable…

Tom's eyes sparked with unbridled glee as he no doubt knew he'd succeeded in accosting him,

"Bella, leave us."

Bellatrix nodded solemnly and walked away. Harry felt Tom take his wrist and began leading him through the crowd, and his stomach churned at the suspense of where they were going… and what they would do once they got there.

Don't be silly. Nothing's going to happen… You can't let anything happen…

He knew that much, but he couldn't deny that as Tom lifted the rope that closed off one of the hallways off the rotunda, he desperately wanted to be alone with him. Tom came to a halt and Harry noticed the frown on his face. He quickly walked past him, and after Tom refastened the rope, he could feel his presence looming behind him.

The hallway was unlit, but up ahead he could make out the faint red lights of the corridor that contained the makeup and costume room.

He was biting on the inside of his cheek as he looked at Tom. In the soft glow from the party, he could just make out his face as he stared down at him. Harry felt some of his senses return as he struggled to do some damage control… He needed to get away now…

"I don't want to get in any trouble… We shouldn't be here…"

"Don't you trust me?"

Tom brushed his knuckles down the side of his cheek, and his touch left goose bumps in its wake,

"Of course, but…"

Tom tsked,

"No buts. You do or you don't."

He swallowed as whatever wits he'd gathered, simply left him once again,

"I do."

He'd never seen Tom's dominant side, so it took him completely off guard…maybe that's why tonight felt on a whole other level.

A smile turned up the corner of Tom's lips as he held his chin once again,

"Good…"

Tom turned on his heel to walk farther down the hall and he had to run to catch up to him,

"Are you really a vampire?"

Tom hummed and Harry spoke again,

"Don't vampires feed on humans?"

Tom came to a halt and looked down at him, his eyes glittered in the darkness.

"Yes. They do."

A shiver racked his body, but it wasn't just his words that caused that reaction. Just being in his presence, feeling the power and control emanating off him, had him feeling completely defenceless and he could only hope that nothing went wrong.

All his hopes shattered though when quick as a viper, Tom backed him up, and his hands flattened on the wall on either side of his head, caging him in. His pulse sped up as he leaned in, angling his head like he was going to kiss him. His breath ghosted over his lips, and then he said,

"You are just as I'd imagined you'd be."