MY IMMORTAL

Tara's Note: Special thanks (Get it, because I'm gothic?) to my girlfriend (Ew, not in that way) Raven (bloodytears666) for helping me with the story and spelling. You rock! Justin you're the love of my depressing life and you rock, too! MCR ROCKS!

Courtney's Note: Ohh, it's been too long. I hate my old 'My Immortal'. It's hideous and by the time this is posted, it's been deleted. I'm going to stick closer to the original story line this time, and I'm keeping Tara's notes all the way through. Believe it or not, there's an enchanting tale under My Immortal, so stick around to see it unfurl. Also, now I've actually read Harry Potter. I'm updating all my stories every Friday, so be sure to check back.


Chapter 1.

Picture this.

Fade in on a girl with hair as black as a cool winter night and eyes as blue as the roaring ocean. Her skin is as pale as the freshly fallen snow outside, and her lips are as red as the fresh blood dripping from the cut on her arms.

She resides in a large castle, living among so many others. Above her lays another body, and across from her, two more. In the closet hangs black vests, skirts, boots, and heels, along with green and silver socks, ties, and scarves.

This is the portrait of Ebony Layla Way.

Her thick eyelashes fluttered as she awoke. She sat up and noticed the darkness outside. Sighing quietly, she pushed off her covers, threw her legs over the side of the bed, and rose. She steadied herself on the bed before moving about the room.

She ditched her typical goth apparel that night; she just wanted to go for a walk. She put on a black jacket and boots over her Marilyn Manson pajamas, then wrapped her neck in Slytherin's trademark green and silver scarf. She threw her hair into a messy bun and skipped the makeup. Who would be out there to judge her, anyway?

She tiptoed through the dark halls of Hogwarts, careful to avoid Filch and his horrid cat, Mrs. Noris. As she left the commons room, she looked back to make sure no one was following her. Noting the absence of anyone else, she continued. At last, she made it out of the castle and set about walking around the grounds.

"Hey, Ebony." A voice ripped through the cold night's air, causing her to jump.

She turned and sighed in relief, a puff of white smoke illustrating the action. "Hi, Draco." They both walked toward each other, then linked arms and began to stroll down Hogwarts' cobblestone walkways.

They walked contentedly, looking like an old couple reminiscing the good days in perfect silence, for their actions spoke louder the words. The way they rubbed shoulder, how she would walk faster to keep up with his long stride. The tiny things were what mattered most. Unfortunately, Draco broke the comfortable silence.

"Couldn't sleep?" Draco asked, shooting a lazy smile at Ebony.

"Draco, we've been friends long enough for you to know I never sleep." She returned his smile. "I'm actually surprised to see you up at this hour. What's wrong?" Her smile turned into a concerned frown, and her eyebrows knitted together.

Draco's smile quickly faded. "I'm fine, Ebony." He smiled at her, trying to mask the emotion he'd just set loose. Ebony frowned again, knowing in her heart something was wrong. "Why can't you sleep, Ebony?"

Ebony kicked a pile of snow off the icy path. "I keep thinking about home."

Draco laughed, though it was bitter. "Yeah, I guess we're both a little less than homesick." He frowned out toward the Forbidden Forest, lost in thought

Ebony looked at the ground and kicked yet another snow mound. "You can't be sick for something you don't have." She smiled at Draco painfully and he gave a lazy yawn. "You should get back to bed." She slapped him in the chest lightly.

"That's probably a good idea." Draco laughed, lifting the veil of agitation that filled the outside air. They turned and headed back into the castle. They navigated through the castle once again until they were safely inside the warmth of the Slytherin wing, Filch's beady eyes never spotting them

Ebony got on her tiptoes and kissed Draco on the cheek in the green light of the commons room. "Goodnight, Draco." In the dark, she couldn't see the rosy pink dusted across his cheek.

"Good night, Ebony." He smiled, touching his cheek where she had kissed him. He walked into the boy's dorms, and Ebony watched him go. As the sound of his footsteps faded, Ebony sighed and sat down on a leather upholstered seat. She reached around her neck and pulled out a locket. Opening it, she frowned. Her eyes flicked to her bare wrist, where light pink scars marked where it had been kissed by cool steel blades. Ebony pulled at the hairband around her wrist so that it snapped back with a quiet whack. She looked back at the locket and pulled out a folded up photo.

Unfolding it gently, she rubbed her finger over the spots where tears and blood had wrinkled, blurred, and marked the paper. She stroked the face of a woman with raven black hair and bright blue eyes, then the man next to her, whose pale skin had now become her own. Ebony folded the weathered paper and stuck it back in the locket. Flipping the locket over, she read the back.

Ebony Layla,

Mommy and Daddy love you, baby girl.

Ebony squeezed her eyes shut, trying to blot out all memories of the locket. Yet she clutched its cold silver exterior as if it was her lifeline.

As the tears dried, she made her way back to her room.


Tara's Note: Is it good? Please tell me! Thanks!

Courtney's Note: Wow, that was huge contrast from my original, but I like it. I'm trying to make Ebony way more likeable here. By the way, I removed the 'Darkness Dementia Raven' part. Layla means 'Dark Beauty', so I just rolled with that.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to review, it makes my day!