"Yes dear, it's packed with nuggies of course. Come on!"
Albus Severus grinned at his grandma's declaration as he watched the last items fly into the picnic hamper. These days, as had often been the case with teenagers throughout history, it took a lot of effort to convince him to leave the sanctuary of his room. The fragrance of the delicate, succulent chicken nuggets, prepared by Nana for the lame family picnic, had reached his nostrils in the middle of his three-hour group mirrorcall with his Warwizard clan. Technically, they had been preparing their next raid on Merlin's Redoubt, the last four attempts ruined by their tank not being tanky enough, but nuggies took priority, and he had ended the call to investigate.
"Can't I just have some of the nuggies here?" he asked, hoping to avoid an afternoon of Weasley-Potter-Granger clan mayhem. "You know the others are just going to tease me if I go. It's been six years and they're still not over the Slytherin thing."
It looked for a moment as if Molly almost considered the idea of letting him stay on his own, but in the end, she shook her head with a sigh. "Stick close to me if they give you any trouble and I'll give them what for. You're a bright young lad, and I know the whole family loves you." She walked up to him and hugged him, managing to suppress a shudder as in a moment of madness she brushed her fingers through his long, greasy hair. Yuck, she thought, I'd forgotten about that.
She pulled back and looked him in the eyes as she continued. "It's bad enough you're the only one staying with us this summer, you're never with your siblings or cousins. And don't forget, that boy Scorpius Malfoy is coming, you haven't seen him since school finished."
"Actually, I was just on the mirror with him," said Albus smugly. "We talk nearly every day and he's not even sure he's coming."
Molly harrumphedat his answer. "Mirrors aren't a substitute for seeing anyone, Albus Severus, don't give me that. Now, you'll be coming and that's final. I refuse to watch you waste your summer away doing that internship at the Quibbler and playing on the Eggs-Box. I've half a mind to take that thing away so that you do something productive with your time like degnoming the garden or chasing pretty witches in Ottery. You know, outside."
Albus showed the palms of his hands in a placating gesture, fearful of what his grandmother might do. He'd heard the stories. "It's alright Nana, you're right of course. I'm coming with you. It'll be good to see Uncle Fred anyway, he said they made a new game. Legacy of Hogwarts or something like that." He scratched his head, trying to remember the name.
"That just takes the biscuit!" replied Molly. "Why do you want to return to Hogwarts virtually when you tell me you're so bored there?"
"Because now, I'll be able to go to Hogwarts and enjoy the world's best nuggies, Nana," Albus said cheekily as he walked out the door with her. "The main ingredient that's missing from my life when I'm there, will finally be available."
Molly groaned as she grabbed his elbow and apparated them to the forest. Already, banners and balloons decorated the picnic area, and a horde of grandchildren charged her. She braced herself for so many hugs at once, but instead felt the basket being torn from her hands. A great cheer erupted.
"Hooray! The nuggies have arrived!"