Chapter one

AN: This is a remake of My Immortal, by Tara Gilesbie. My brother challenged me to rewrite it entirely. So I challenged him as well. Please compare and review our stories, his account is Lepidolite Mica. Criticism is appreciated, flames are welcome, suggestions are recommended. Please enjoy, and have a nice life, fellow freaks! (^_^)

A name. A name is an identity. A verbal fingerprint. The face of soul in a sea of chaos. A distinguishing mark. An emblem of humanity. A personality that you can express in a word. A complex existence, with all the faults and quirks and traits of a person compressed into a single breath. A name...

Ebony Way.

That name means nothing to me.

My existence, as I have known it to be for the past seventeen years, evaporated in a heartbeat three nights ago. I was wandering the vacant halls of Hogwarts, way past my curfew, when a shrill cry pierced the peace. It sent a fierce jolt down my spine.

'Probably one of those first years.' I snickered to myself, as I regained my composure. ' Turned a corner and ran straight through the Bloody Baron.'

Stupid first years.

I paused my stride, hoping to hear what had become of the kid. Nothing. I shrugged delicately and continued walking. My heels clicked boldly on the polished stone, stepping in tune to an imaginary beat. A warm breath ghosted over my neck.

Inhaling sharply, I whipped my head around; coming face to face with the most chilling red eyes I had ever seen. My hand twitched toward my wand, my mouth opened to scream. Nothing.

An icy hand hovered near my face, I couldn't tear my gaze from his. His deathly pale skin seemed to hang limp from his bones. His toothy grin tore his face in two, stretching across it inhumanly.

"Evening, Prey." He spoke in an ethereal, yet gravely, raspy tone. The words dripped with an unspeakable threat. I shivered involuntarily.

"L-let go of me!" My voice came out as barely a whisper.

I wasn't sure it was possible but his face split further, the corners of his mouth curling near his ears. He leaned forward, brought his other hand up to my shoulder and gripped it harshly. I flinched, or at least tried to. Every muscle in my body ached to retreat. To rip myself away from this foul creature. But, while my mind and soul pleaded desperately to do so, my body stayed rooted. Paralyzed.

"You? Order me?" He breathed.

His fingers tightened, clutching my shoulder rigidly, his other hand grasping my hair. Fingernails dug into my skin, shredding it as his grip grew stronger. My head was ripped violently to the side and razor sharp teeth sank into my neck, slicing my fragile skin and tearing open my artery.

Oh, to die. That would be heaven.

His grip was uncompromising; my body, unyielding. I stood there frozen, incapable of even gasping for air. Burning pain seared through every inch of my being, encompassing my every thought, seizing my last hope. And finally… there was darkness.

Have you ever been so terrified that your heart stops beating? And then it explodes in a brilliant, grotesque display of filthy mortality. Spewing its weakness like venom, infecting everything within its feeble range.

The silence of the explosion scratched furiously through my ears. My miniscule human existence lay sprawled out on the floor of the hall. Like a speck of dust, shoved into the corner of the room.

I have never felt so lost. Unimportant. Invisible. Useless.

Is this what death feels like?

Emptiness?

My hands shook fearfully as I forced myself to stand. My throat felt like I had swallowed a desert, my brain pounded against my skull like a raging elephant in a cage. I blinked rapidly, trying to regain my consciousness. I seemed to be floating halfway between real life and an endless, empty dream. And I wasn't sure which I was in now.

My stomach jerked painfully. I bent double and retched on to the floor, gagging again and again and again. Purging myself of nothing more than acid and blood. Again and again.

I curled over myself. Trembling in exhaustion. Twitching. Jerking. Gasping. Silently.

I shuddered at the memory.

'Why me?' That was the only thought the ran through my head every second until now. Now, three days later. I still haven't got a clue.

A crisp breeze fluttered my long black hair, washing over me like a pleasant friend. The wind was the only one who knew my secret. I cried to it some nights. Slightly pleading anyone out there to listen. To answer. Just, help.

I sighed in acceptance, trudging slowly along the gravel path that wound around Hogwart's campus. Life had continued for everyone else. Laughter ran through the courtyard, whispers of playful schemes passed from one student to another. Like a joke everyone was in on, except me. Life was pleasant for them. Carefree. Hopeful.

"Watch it, Mudblood!"

Someone bumped into me, knocking me off my feet and sending me face first into the snow. Grunting, I turned over and frowned deeply at the jerk. Draco Malfoy. What a surprise.

"What's the matter?" I huffed at him. "Have trouble walking?"

"I'm not the one with their head in the clouds. Homesick or something, freak?" He sneered down at me, pointed nose stuck up in disgust. His posse cackled wickedly behind him. Every one of their ugly faces screwed up in amusement.

I rolled my eyes and flipped him off. "Oh, go kiss a snake, Malfoy."

His eyes flashed dangerously and for a brief moment, they seemed almost red.

"I wouldn't speak like that, if I were you." He snapped back. "You should show more respect, filth."

Standing up, I unhurriedly brushed myself off. Taking my time to look entirely disinterested.

"You'd love that, wouldn't you?" I smirked. "But I don't answer to scum like you."

His face heated up furiously. "Why you little-"

Draco was swiftly cut off by Professor McGonagall calling all the students back indoors. Scowling in irritation, he puffed out his chest and combed back his platinum blonde hair regally. Leaning in towards me, he whispered dangerously,

"One of these days, I'll make you regret your very existence..." He let the threat trail off as he turned to head back up to the school.

"What existence?" I scoffed softly. For a moment, I thought I caught a glimpse of understanding flicker across his face. As quickly as it appeared, it vanished; and so did he and his minions.

Leaving me alone. Again.

AN: So? How was it? (^_^) I LOVE writing about Draco! He's such a pompous ass, but so freakin' hot! *sigh* … one of these days….

Lolz! Thanks for reading! Please R/R, and have a nice life! (^_^)