**Chapter 3: The Dark Lord's Bride**

As Tom Riddle's eyes burned with an inner fire, I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me. I knew that I had to go through with this, but the thought of consummating our marriage was daunting. I steeled myself, trying to push aside the memories of Ginny, of our laughter, our love, and our life together. Tom Riddle's smile grew wider as he approached me, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light. He reached out and took my hand, leading me towards the massive four-poster bed. I felt a sense of resignation wash over me, as I realized that this was my new reality. As we stood beside the bed, Tom Riddle's eyes seemed to bore into my very soul. I could feel his magic, dark and potent, swirling around me like a shroud. I knew that I had to be careful, that one misstep could mean disaster. He began to undress, his movements slow and deliberate. I watched, feeling a sense of detachment, as he shed his robes and stood before me in all his glory. I knew that I had to do the same, but my hands felt heavy, as if weighted down by the task ahead. Tom Riddle's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement as he noticed my hesitation. "Don't be shy, Harry," he said, his voice low and husky. "We're married now. It's time for us to seal our union." I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself for what was to come. I began to undress, feeling a sense of shame and vulnerability as I shed my clothes. Tom Riddle's eyes roved over me, his gaze lingering on my scars, on the marks of my battles with him. As I stood before him, naked and vulnerable, Tom Riddle's expression softened. For a moment, I saw a glimmer of something almost like tenderness in his eyes. But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by his usual cold, calculating gaze. He reached out and took me, pulling me close as he whispered a gentle incantation. I felt a surge of magic, a dark and potent force that seemed to bind us together. It was a strange, tingling sensation, like nothing I had ever experienced before. As the magic washed over me, I felt a sense of disorientation. I was no longer sure what was real, what was not. Tom Riddle's eyes seemed to gleam with triumph as he pulled me close, his lips brushing against my ear. "You're mine now, Harry," he whispered. "Forever and always, you'll be mine." I felt a shiver run down my spine as he spoke, his words echoing in my mind like a dark and sinister refrain. I knew that I had to hold on to my sense of self, to the things that made me who I was. But as Tom Riddle's arms wrapped around me, holding me close, I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever be free again. The darkness closed in around me, a suffocating shroud that threatened to consume me whole. I knew that I had to find a way to escape, to break free from Tom Riddle's grasp and reclaim my life. But for now, I was trapped, bound to the Dark Lord by a union that I had never chosen, and a magic that seemed to grow stronger with every passing moment.