Title: My Name

Author: Erik deSoir

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. and to various publishers including but not limited to Scholastic Books, Raincoat Books, and Bloomsbury Books. No copyright or trademark infringement is intended

Pairing: H/D

Warning: None, really.

Note: I received an email that had been forwarded to me. It contained a list of things a group of 4-8 year-olds said about what love means. I was inspired to write a story for each one:

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4

The moon is shining. You always seem to know when the moon is going to be full. I used to wonder why, but I know now. Once I finally figured out why you keep track of the moon, I thought it was sort of, well, stupid. Now I find it absolutely endearing. I ought to tell you that. I ought to tell you more things than I do.

I'm unkind to you yet you have absolute faith in me. It astounds me you would put so much trust in me, of all people. I could easily go behind your back, and you would never know. I can't, though. Every time you look at me I feel the love radiating from your very being, and it renders me still and quiet. I could never do anything to betray that.

You make a noise in your sleep and roll over. Green, glassy eyes stare at me. I reach out a hand and run my fingers down your cheek. You smile sleepily and curl into my chest. A warm feeling blossoms in my chest. I trace lazy patterns on your skin. I lean down and press my face into your dark hair and smile, inhaling, imprinting the scent of you in my mind.

Your breath whispers against my skin. I wrap an arm around you and pull you closer to me. I feel your lips move, you're smiling. I settle back into the blankets and just hold you.

There's something tugging at my mind and suddenly I am desperate to ask you something. I look down at the top of your head. You turn your face toward mine.

My bottom lip trembles, I can't ask anymore. Your brow furrows, and you move up to press your lips to mine. Sweet, soft lips. I can't stand how much you love me. Why, why do you love me so?

You rest your head on my chest and whisper, "What is it that keeps you awake at night?" You splay your fingers across my stomach. I wonder if you can feel how hard my heart is beating.

My breath catches in my throat, a lump forming, but I push against it, asking what I so badly need to, "Why do you love me?"

A pause, and then a chuckle, "I love you because you love me for me. You see past my scar. You-you…" You trail off and I am thrown into turmoil.

Suddenly you find your voice again, "I love you because you are you." You suck in a deep breath and plunge on, my heart following the motion, "You make me feel wanted, loved. You make me feel safe."

My lip is trembling again, and I can feel tears forming in my eyes. You look up and see this, crawling toward my face again, crooning comfort in hushed whispers. You lay alongside me, wrapping an arm around me, one hand wiping away the tears that have begun trailing down my face.

I can finally understand what it is you're whispering as the sound of my own heartbeat settles. "I loved you the first time you said my name. I had never heard someone say my name in such a manner. There was something about the way you said it. Somehow I knew that that was it. I knew it just like that." You laugh a little, "I knew it just because of the way you said my name."

You continue to murmur, your deep voice drawing me closer and closer to sleep. I pull you to me again. Your fingers are in my hair, gently weaving through it. And it is to this I fall asleep, lulled by your love.