Chapter 72:
Eventually the house elf promised by Augusta popped up and they made their way into the informal dining room. Harry saw that Augusta was with an elderly man and Harry assumed that this was Neville's famous uncle Algie. Looking at the table, Harry saw that a large arrangement of party nibbles had been set up with plates and the children were told to help themselves buffet style. Harry was happy to see such a large selection and picked a few different sandwiches to try, as well as salad and cakes.
After the food was cleared, the presents were passed out. Neville opened Susan's present first and saw that she had bought him a book on medicinal uses of Herbology and a child's medi-wizard kit. Although slightly practical, Harry could see that Neville loved the book; he had remembered in his last life how the boy had at one point bemoaned how he didn't have any skills apart from Herbology, which is wrongly considered useless by many.
Harry's present came next. Opening in the gift-wrapped box, Neville looked confused before he read the card Harry had written and added, "Wow, Harry, these are great!" He looked at the ball with renewed wonder now that he knew what it was.
Harry smiled. "Well, this way we can talk all the time, even at Hogwarts," he said.
The girls looked at the note and ooh'd and ahh'd once they understood what the crystal orb was.
Neville moved on and opened Hannah's gift; she had bought the box a rare hybrid plant, a miniature pineapple-apple tree. Once grown, it would never be over four feet tall, and the fruits would be the size of golf ball at largest.
"Thank you," Neville said, looking slightly overwhelmed by the sheer fact he had not only friends, but friends who knew him and what he liked.
"It's okay Neville, that's what friends are for," Harry said, pulling Neville into a one-armed hug.
"Yeah Nev, I'm just happy you liked my present. I thought it was too practical," Susan said, smiling.