Written for A-B-C Fast or Slow Challenge: Harry Potter Edition.
Prompts: Malcolm/Merope/mule/Manchester/marshmallow
"Marshmallow?" he said, wide eyes blinking up at the older boy in front of him. The boy looked at him with pure distaste, but Mal didn't care. He couldn't find Minnie, and was so getting over his nervousness about Hogwarts by introducing himself to random people.
"No," the boy said. "I do not want a marshmallow. Who are you?"
He sounded incredulous, a new word Mal had heard from Minnie. Mal looked at him. "Malcolm McGonagall. You can call me Mal."
The boy raised an eyebrow. "Minerva McGonagall's brother? Why didn't I see it before?"
Mal shrugged, taking a bite of the marshmallow. "Don't know. According to Mother, we are a lot alike. 'Stubborn as a mule' she says."
The boy looked at Mal like he was an odd creature that sprang up out of nothing.
It was actually kind of flattering.
"That's what your mother says?" The boy sounds like he can't even believing he is still letting this conversation is going on. Mal should know, that's how most people sound when they talk to him.
"Yeah. Her name is Isobel. What's yours?"
The boy's face closed off. "Why do you wish to know?"
Mal shrugged. He didn't need to know, but he would like to know. It would be an interesting fact to find out about his new friend. The boy looked at him, eyes narrowed and silent. Mal just looked back at him. "Merope," he says finally.
Mal nods. "Nice. What's yours?"
Despite himself it seems, the boy smiles. "Tom. Tom Riddle."
"Nice to meet you, Tom," Mal says with a wide smile. "What House are you in?"
"Slytherin," he says, giving into the fact that Mal isn't going to go away.
Mal makes a face. "Weird. You seem nice. I'm going to be a Gryffindor."
Tom rolls his eyes. "I'm not surprised."
Mal grins cheekily, confusion about Tom's House forgotten. "So, Tom, what did you do this summer? Me and my family went to Manchester. . . ."