The first time Neville received a Weasley Wool Sweater, he almost burst into tears.
Harry was irrevocably interwoven with the Weasley clan. What neither of them had realized at the time was just how deep the bond went.
Harry and Neville had married nearly half a year before that burning summer eve, a quiet, small event that disappointed the reporters. Each wore a simple steel band on their fingers despite both their relative wealth. They preferred things that way, the Slayer of Nagini and Destroyer of Voldemort.
However, this story starts five months later, with mosquitoes nipping at tiny redheaded ankles as their parents chased them around the Burrow in vain attempts to bring them to the table. Neville and Harry sat near each other as Molly, nearing her sixties, but still as headstrong and powerful placed the last of the presents in front of the wondrous birthday cake she'd made.
Neville gently rolled the ring on Harry's finger as a chunk of the Weasley herd was finally corralled into chairs.
"Who's present are ya gonna open first, Uncle Nev?" Rose asked cheerfully, bouncing in her seat.
"Molly and Arthur's, I believe," Neville said, flashing a smile at their hosts. He pulled the present toward him and began to carefully peel apart the paper. Like Harry, he was careful with the wrappings.
The first brown stitch made his heart stutter.
"Is this…" he breathed, barely stopping himself from ripping open the rest of the packaging.
Soon, he pulled it out- a brown, woolen sweater with a golden 'N' emblazoned in the front.
His own Weasley Wool Sweater.
Chest stuttering, he held the sweater to himself, head bowed over it as the corners of his eyes burned. Harry's hand tightened in his own as he took steady breaths.
"Molly, I-" Neville tried, voice cracking. "Thank you. Thank you."
"You are part of the family, Neville," Molly said, smiling into both of her boys' watery eyes. "I've wanted to make you one since you started dating our Harry here, but...I waited until it was official."
"Thank you," Harry whispered, leaning his head against Neville's shoulder. Neville reached down to give him a chaste peck, ignoring the typical cries of 'gross' from the younger crowd.
"Well, gushy stuff over. Cake time!" Ron said, clapping his hands together even as Hermione snapped his name. The Weasleys- Neville and Harry included- burst into laughter.
400 words
Prompts: wool (word), the Burrow (setting), a sweater (object), a birthday cake (object)
