Harry took a deep inhale through his nose, letting the vapors from the nozzle enter his sinuses. The first smell that hit him was woody, and then another that was almost musty. Underneath that was something spicy, and a few other scents that he couldn't quite place, but could only feel deep in his core. It was very pleasant, and he was sure it would be quite nice to wear. "Well, thanks Lavender! I'll be sure to wear it on some special occasion." Harry said after explaining what he could smell.
Harry went around while everyone ate and personally thanked them for coming. He was ecstatic that everyone could make it out. Padma and Parvati's father, Rajesh Patil stopped him. "Hello Harry, did the book I sent you help you at all?" the older man asked. Towards the beginning of their first year at Hogwarts, Padma and Parvati had asked their father to send some books on what was expected for male heirs of wizarding families, especially the sole remaining heirs like what Harry was. Rajesh had sent along a manual that was the most helpful to him during his time, and Harry had read through it several times.
"Oh yes sir. I would have never known what I am meant to do without it, I owe you a great debt for that." Harry said. From what the book had told him, Harry's status as the last heir of the house of Potter meant that he had many duties he needed to perform once he came of age. From managing finances, to ensuring the continuation of his family line, there was a lot of pressure. Thankfully, he wouldn't need to worry too much about it until he was 14, which is when he would be officially given access to the wider Potter fortune. No one was quite sure how large it was, though it was expected to be substantial. Ted had said that when the time came, he would help Harry learn to manage the fortune as best he could.
"No debt, you make both of my daughters very happy by being their friend, so many positive letters sent back home about you. My wife was very sad she could not attend today, she so wanted to meet you." Rajesh said. "I do hope when it comes time to consider wives, you will remember my daughters."
Harry went red at that. He was of course aware that he was all but required to marry at least one woman, and likely more simply to rebuild the house of Potter, much less any houses that he may be the last in line for. "I think I'm a little young to think about that, but I'd be a fool if I did forget Padma or Parvati, they're great friends, and very pretty."
Rajesh let out a hearty belly laugh at Harry's embarrassment. "True words, they are almost doppelgangers of their mother in her youth."
Harry and Rajesh chatted for a few moments, before he sent Harry along to his other guests. Meeting with Hannah and Tracey's moms had been pleasant, if a bit embarrassing. Both were happy that their daughters had made new friends since attending Hogwarts, and constantly spouted about how adorable they found Harry. They also laughed when their statements made Harry turn into what was quickly becoming his signature shade of crimson, before sending him on his way. Lavender's mother however, had been a different beast from all of them. Lavender had warned Harry about how her mother might try and wrangle some gossip about the Boy-Who-Lived out of him, and she had been correct. Every sentence Mrs. Brown spoke was a leading question into some aspect of his life, his childhood before Hogwarts, the events of the last year, even mundane things like his personal preferences in women. Lavender quickly came to his rescue, and had somehow curtailed her mom with threats of 'telling Dad'. That, as well as backup that arrived in the form of Andromeda, Mrs. Abbot, and Mrs. Davis saved him from her wrath for the rest of the day.
Meeting with David and Rose Granger again had been a pleasant affair, and they were so overwhelmed with how much their shy daughter had really come out of her shell and made so many friends. They thanked Harry for this, and Harry swore that he had very little to do with it, but they seemed to insist he did.
A few hours later, the party wrapped itself up as the collected pre-teens began to wear down, their excitement in seeing each other again being trounced by their failing bodies. A floo connection was opened in a nearby pavilion, and Harry waved off his many guests as they passed through, and saw the Grangers in their car head off for the suburb they called home.
"Did you have a good birthday Harry?" Andromeda asked as they entered their living room back at home.
"It was the best birthday I've ever had! I can't imagine how it could've been better. Thank you so much for doing it for me." Harry said, excitement evident on his face, even as his energy was leaving his body.
"Well, it'll be the first in a long line of good ones from now on. We'll make sure of it." Charlie said, wrapping his arm around Nymphadora.
"You know it little bro! Next year we'll take everyone up on broomsticks, that'll be wild!" Nymphadora said, pumping her fist into the air.
"Just so long as there's no rough housing. Harry's not a quidditch player like you two were Nym." Ted said, as he settled into his chair.
"Shame too, he'd be a hell of a seeker, his build and reflexes? Other teams wouldn't stand a chance." Nymphadora said, looking wistfully.
"Language young lady!" Andromeda said, giving Nymphadora a soft bop on the head with the rolled up Daily Prophet she had in her hand.
"Sorry mum." Nymphadora said, mostly unapologetically.
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