“Hi my name is Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way and I have long black scene hair with red streaks that reaches my ass and a lot of people tell me I look like a vampire.”
— The opening lines of the Immortal fanfiction, introducing the protagonist.
Archivist's Choice
My Immortal
Tara Gilesbie (2006)
Genre
Fantasy / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
20 min
Key Themes
See below
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A goth named Ebony navigates forbidden love with Draco Malfoy, telekinetic Voldemort commands, and time-traveling seduction to save the Dark Lord's soul.
Synopsis
Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way, a seventeen-year-old goth vampire, attends Hogwarts while in love with Draco Malfoy. Their relationship has issues because of Draco's past with Harry 'Vampire' Potter, and Ebony also receives love confessions from Hagrid and 'Snaketail.' Professor Sinister tells Ebony she must travel back in time to seduce a young Tom Riddle, hoping to prevent him from becoming Voldemort by introducing him to love. Voldemort, using 'telekinesis,' commands Ebony to kill Harry. Snape and Remus are 'pedofiles' who photograph her, and Ebony's precognitive visions guide her, leading her to embark on the time-traveling mission.
Reading time
20 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Absurdist, Campy, Unintentionally Hilarious, Chaotic
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy fanfiction that is self-referential, embraces absurdity, and is often considered an iconic example of 'so-bad-it's-good' writing.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer well-structured plots, consistent characterization, high-quality prose, or are easily offended by controversial themes and content.
Plot Summary
Welcome to My Immortal
The story begins with Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way, a seventeen-year-old goth vampire, introducing herself. She describes her unique fashion, including black hair, pale skin, and piercings, and her love for bands like My Chemical Romance and Good Charlotte. She attends Hogwarts, which is full of goths and vampires. Her best friend, Willow, shares her gothic style. Ebony also mentions her crush on Draco Malfoy, who is an elegant goth vampire, but she worries about his past with Harry Potter, another vampire. This chapter sets the over-the-top, angsty mood for the whole story.
A Goth Encounter and a Jealous Glare
Ebony walks through the Hogwarts dungeons and sees Draco Malfoy, who looks gothic and appealing. Her heart races for him, but then she notices Harry Potter, also a vampire. Harry and Draco share a moment that makes Ebony jealous, increasing her suspicion that Draco might still like Harry. This interaction confirms Ebony's romantic interest in Draco and introduces a possible love triangle, or square, given her concerns about Draco's past. The scene highlights Ebony's strong emotions and how she sees other characters through her gothic view.
Voldemort's Telepathic Command
Ebony receives a surprising command from Lord Voldemort. He contacts her telepathically, saying he knows about her relationship with Draco Malfoy. Voldemort, a powerful and mysterious figure, tells Ebony to kill Harry Potter. This unexpected order creates a major plot point and a moral problem for Ebony, forcing her to confront her feelings for Draco and her possible role in a dark plan. The scene shows Voldemort's seemingly all-knowing abilities and his manipulative nature, setting up future conflicts and drawing Ebony further into the magical world's affairs.
Confessions of Love and Creepy Teachers
As Ebony moves through Hogwarts, she gets an unusual number of romantic declarations. Hagrid, unexpectedly, tells her he loves her, followed by a character named 'Snaketail' who also expresses affection. At the same time, Ebony notices the unsettling behavior of Professor Snape and Remus Lupin, whom she calls 'pedofiles.' She sees them taking pictures of her, which disturbs her and adds creepiness and paranoia to her school experience. These events contribute to the chaotic and often illogical nature of Ebony's reality, blurring the lines between true affection and predatory intent.
A Precognitive Vision and its Verification
Ebony starts having precognitive visions, seeing glimpses of future events. She first struggles to understand these strange happenings, but soon, one of her visions comes true, confirming her new ability. This introduces a supernatural element beyond vampirism and gothic style, suggesting Ebony has a unique and powerful gift. The confirmation of her vision solidifies its importance and hints at a larger role she might play in the story. This moment adds mystical intrigue to her character and sets the stage for her future involvement in time travel.
Professor Sinister's Revelation
Ebony has an important meeting with Professor Sinister, who shares a key piece of information about Voldemort. Sinister explains that Voldemort's turn to evil resulted from a lack of love and affection. He then reveals that Ebony, with her unique abilities and charm, can change this past. Sinister gives Ebony a huge mission: to travel back in time and seduce a young Voldemort, preventing him from becoming the dark lord. This revelation changes the story's focus, turning Ebony from a goth vampire student into a possible savior of the wizarding world.
The Time-Traveling Mission Begins
After Professor Sinister's revelation, Ebony gets ready for her journey into the past. The details of how she will travel back are not clear, but her mission's importance is. She understands she must use her unique charm and gothic appeal to turn a young Tom Riddle away from darkness. This scene marks a turning point in the story, as Ebony accepts her destiny and the responsibility of changing history. Her personal romantic entanglements with Draco and Harry are set aside as she focuses on this world-altering task.
Encountering Young Tom Riddle
Ebony successfully travels back in time, arriving when Tom Riddle is a Hogwarts student. She seeks him out, watching him from a distance before approaching. Young Tom Riddle is intelligent but isolated, showing early signs of his future darkness. Ebony uses her gothic charm and unique personality to try and engage him, aiming to plant seeds of love and compassion where there was once only ambition and loneliness. This first meeting is important, as it sets up Ebony's mission to prevent Voldemort's rise by influencing his younger years.
The Seduction Attempt
Ebony begins her mission to seduce young Tom Riddle. She uses her gothic appeal and tries to connect with him emotionally, hoping to fill the void of love Professor Sinister mentioned. However, Tom Riddle's inherent darkness and ambition are a big challenge. While he might be interested in Ebony's unique personality, his path to becoming Voldemort is deeply set. This scene shows how hard it is to change fate and the strong influence of a person's core nature, even in their youth. Tom meets Ebony's efforts with a mix of curiosity and resistance.
Unforeseen Complications
As Ebony continues her mission in the past, she faces unexpected problems. The details are vague, but these obstacles make her task of seducing Tom Riddle even harder. Perhaps other historical figures interfere, or Tom Riddle's own manipulative tendencies become clear, making him resist her influence. These problems add suspense and show that changing the past is not simple. Ebony must deal with these new challenges while staying true to her goal, highlighting the high stakes of her time-traveling mission and the possible effects of her actions on the future.
Return to the Present (or a modified present)
After her time in the past, Ebony returns to her own time, though it is unclear if her efforts worked or if she changed the timeline. The story leaves the full impact of her actions unclear, suggesting that changing the past has complex consequences that are not always obvious. Ebony is left to wonder if Voldemort's fate has changed or if her attempts were useless. This uncertain return leaves the reader wondering about the true outcome of her mission and what it means for the future of the wizarding world.
Principal Figures
Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way
The Protagonist
Ebony transforms from a love-struck goth student into a reluctant time-traveling savior, embracing a destiny far grander than her initial romantic concerns.
Draco Malfoy
The Love Interest
Draco remains largely unchanged, serving as a consistent object of Ebony's affection and a source of romantic tension.
Harry Potter
The Rival/Target
Harry remains a static figure, primarily serving as a romantic obstacle and a target for assassination.
Lord Voldemort
The Antagonist
Voldemort's character is explored through his past, becoming the target for Ebony's intervention to prevent his future evil.
Willow
The Supporting
Willow remains a consistent supportive friend, providing a backdrop to Ebony's adventures.
Hagrid
The Supporting/Mentioned
Hagrid's role is limited to a single, surprising romantic confession.
Snaketail
The Supporting/Mentioned
Snaketail's role is limited to a single, surprising romantic confession.
Professor Snape
The Antagonist/Mentioned
Snape is presented as a static, predatory figure, serving as a source of discomfort for Ebony.
Remus Lupin
The Antagonist/Mentioned
Lupin is presented as a static, predatory figure, serving as a source of discomfort for Ebony.
Professor Sinister
The Supporting
Professor Sinister's role is to initiate Ebony's grand mission, providing exposition and direction.
Young Tom Riddle
The Antagonist/Target
Young Tom Riddle's arc is the central focus of Ebony's mission, representing the potential for a different future.
Themes & Insights
The Power of Love (and its absence)
This theme is central to the story, especially with Professor Sinister saying Voldemort's evil came from a lack of love. Ebony's mission to go back in time and 'seduce' young Tom Riddle is a direct attempt to bring love into his life and change his destiny. The many, often strange, confessions of love for Ebony (from Hagrid, Snaketail) further emphasize love as a common, if sometimes illogical, force in her world. The story suggests that love, or its absence, determines a person's moral alignment.
“Prof. Sinister tells Ebony that if Voldemort had ever had people who loved him he would not have become evil, so Ebony's task is to go back in time and seduce him.”
Gothic Identity and Subculture
The world of 'My Immortal' is full of gothic identity. Ebony's self-description, her fashion (black hair, piercings, band t-shirts), and her best friend Willow all show this subculture. Hogwarts itself becomes a place for goths and vampires, reflecting Ebony's personal style onto her reality. The story uses gothic imagery and stereotypes to define its characters and setting, creating a distinct, if exaggerated, atmosphere that is key to Ebony's self-image and her interactions with the world.
“Hi my name is Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way and I have long ebony black hair (that's how I got my name) with purple streaks and red tips that reaches my mid-back and icy blue eyes like limpid tears and I have a lot of people tell me I look like Amy Lee (AN: if u don't know who she is get da hell out of here!).”
Subjective Reality and Self-Importance
The story is entirely seen through Ebony's subjective and often self-important viewpoint. Her dramatic descriptions, her belief that many characters love her (even Hagrid), and her view of Snape and Lupin as 'pedofiles' all point to a reality shaped by her desires, anxieties, and gothic feelings. This theme shows how a protagonist's inner world can completely redefine the outer world, making the story a reflection of Ebony's ego and her belief that she is the center of all events.
“Snape and Remus are 'pedofiles' who take pictures of her.”
Destiny vs. Free Will
The time-traveling mission to seduce young Tom Riddle directly addresses destiny versus free will. Professor Sinister believes Voldemort's evil resulted from his circumstances (lack of love) and so, his destiny could change with outside help. Ebony's journey into the past tries to change a set future. This theme explores whether people are bound by their nature or if outside influences, like love, can fundamentally change their path, raising questions about how much fate can be altered.
“Prof. Sinister tells Ebony that if Voldemort had ever had people who loved him he would not have become evil, so Ebony's task is to go back in time and seduce him.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Precognitive Visions
Ebony's ability to see future events.
Ebony's precognitive visions serve as a supernatural plot device that elevates her beyond a mere goth vampire. These visions, which are later verified, establish her as a character with unique magical abilities that are crucial to the overarching plot. They provide a sense of foreboding and destiny, hinting at the larger role she is meant to play in the wizarding world. This device also lends credibility to Professor Sinister's choice of Ebony for the time-traveling mission, suggesting she has an innate connection to the fabric of time and fate.
Telepathic Communication
Voldemort's ability to communicate directly with Ebony's mind.
Voldemort's telepathic communication with Ebony is a key plot device that drives much of the initial conflict. It establishes his power and his direct involvement in Ebony's life, even before she actively seeks him out in the past. This device allows for direct instruction and manipulation, setting the stage for the command to kill Harry Potter and highlighting Voldemort's pervasive influence. It also creates a sense of immediate danger and personal connection between the protagonist and the antagonist, bypassing physical presence.
Time Travel
The magical ability to journey into the past.
Time travel is the most significant plot device, fundamentally altering the scope of the narrative. Introduced by Professor Sinister, it allows Ebony to journey back to young Tom Riddle's time, making her mission to prevent Voldemort's rise possible. This device transforms the story from a gothic high school romance into a quest to save the future. It raises the stakes significantly and introduces complex themes of destiny and free will, demonstrating the potential for magical intervention to reshape historical events.
Love Triangle/Square
A romantic entanglement between multiple characters.
The love triangle (or square) involving Ebony, Draco, and Harry (and implied past relationships) serves as an initial driving force for Ebony's emotional journey. Her jealousy over Draco's past with Harry fuels her angst and provides a personal stake in the story's romantic subplots. While later overshadowed by the time-traveling mission, this device establishes Ebony's character as deeply invested in romantic relationships and provides a relatable (if exaggerated) element of teenage drama before the larger, world-saving plot takes over.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“I was walking through the school and all the preps and jocks were staring at me with their stupid blue and blonde hair and their stupid Abercrombie & Fitch clothes.”
— Ebony describes her alienation from the 'normal' students at her high school.
“Then I saw a hot guy with black hair and a pale face and red eyes. He was wearing a black trench coat and black pants and a black shirt. He was so sexy.”
— Ebony first encounters the mysterious and attractive figure of Vampire.
“I looked at him and he looked at me and we fell in love at first sight.”
— Ebony's immediate, intense feelings for Vampire upon their first meeting.
“We went to the cemetery and sat on a tombstone and talked about how much we hated the world.”
— Ebony and Vampire bonding over their shared nihilism in a gothic setting.
“Suddenly, a group of preps came up to us and started making fun of our clothes. I glared at them and said, 'Go away, you preps! You're ruining our moment!'”
— Ebony confronts a group of 'preps' who interrupt her romantic moment with Vampire.
“He took my hand and we ran away from the preps and went to the darkest part of the cemetery. He kissed me passionately and I felt sparks fly.”
— Ebony and Vampire escape the preps and share a romantic kiss.
“Then he said, 'I'm a vampire, Ebony. And I love you.' I smiled and said, 'I know. And I love you too, Vampire.'”
— Vampire reveals his true nature, which Ebony already knew and accepted.
“We went to my house and my mom was there. She was a stupid prep with blonde hair and blue eyes. She said, 'Ebony, where have you been?' I said, 'None of your business, mom!'”
— Ebony's rebellious interaction with her 'prep' mother after her date.
“Then the other members of My Chemical Romance came and they were Gerard Way, Frank Iero, Ray Toro, and Mikey Way. They were all so hot.”
— The introduction of the band My Chemical Romance as characters in the story.
“I was wearing a black corset and a black skirt and fishnet stockings and black boots. I had a lot of piercings and tattoos.”
— Ebony describes her characteristic 'gothic' attire.
“Suddenly, a giant spider came out of nowhere and started chasing us. I screamed and Vampire picked me up and ran away.”
— An unexpected and bizarre plot twist involving a giant spider.
“Then we went to a concert and My Chemical Romance was playing. They were so good. I started headbanging and moshing.”
— Ebony enjoying a My Chemical Romance concert with her friends.
“I knew that I would always be a goff and I would always love My Chemical Romance and I would always love Vampire.”
— Ebony's declaration of her enduring identity and loyalties.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
The story centers on Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way, a 'goff' vampire student at Hogwarts, as she navigates a tumultuous romance with Draco Malfoy. Their relationship is complicated by Draco's past with Harry 'Vampire' Potter and various supernatural occurrences, including precognitive visions and commands from Voldemort.
