Someday My Prince Will Come

"His name's Dimitri, and he's a transfer student from Greece. He used to go to some school or other there, but he didn't like it and now he's here! He's in fourth year and he's drop-dead gorgeous, I swear, haven't you noticed?"

"I haven't seen him before. Which one is he?"

"He's the one with really intense dark brown eyes and straight brown hair, tall, handsome! Haven't you ever noticed him?"

"Can't say I have. You know how I've been, studying for my midterms like crazy, I'm always in the library. I'd have to answer to our dear Headmaster if I failed."

"Hah! I'd almost forgotten about One Big Beaver." It was a nickname that the two girls had come up with for their headmaster, who was extraordinarily fat, had an enormous mustache, and often wore fur coats, which made him look like an overgrown beaver. He had succeeded the former Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, and he was the one who had insisted on starting up this new tradition of midterms, which were smaller exams halfway through the year. They didn't matter as much as the real exams, rather, they were a way for the teachers to make sure the students were learning at the right pace.

"Yeah, One Big Beaver wouldn't be very happy if I failed my exams."

"Well, you'll see him at school. He told Maryanne and she told me. "

Maryanne was Cay's sister, a fourth year as well. The girls continued to talk until Cay caught sight of her bedroom clock.

"Leaping leprechauns! It's already five past ten Joy, you'd better get going, quick!"

The exchanged a quick hug, then Joy raced downstairs and out to the street, flinging out her arm and hurriedly climbing onto the bus without listening to the pimply girl's "Welcome to the..."

Once she got home at quarter past ten, and she explained to her mother that they had simply lost track of time. Her mother reluctantly decided to let her go, just this once. Joy went upstairs to her room, thinking about what Cay had said. If Maryanne was right... She got into her rubber duck pajamas and climbed into bed. She couldn't recall ever seeing the boy Cay described. She wondered if he was as nice on the inside as Cay said he was on the outside. Joy rolled over, and Jasmine gave a sleepy hoot from her perch. She would see what this boy Dimitri was like when she got back from the holidays.

*

"Hurry up Joy, or you'll be late!" The Hogwarts Express tooted its horn cheerily, and students were beginning to lean out the windows, talking to their parents while they waited for the train to leave.

Joy grabbed her trunk and heaved it onto the train. She then went to find a compartment, put her things in the overhead bin, and leaned out the window like the others.

"Bye Mum! I'll send Jasmine along as soon as I can, I think I forgot one of your presents as school."

"No worries dear. You have everything? Books? Cloak? Bag? Homework?"

"Got it all, Mum. Tell Dad I said bye!"

The train whistled a warning, and began to slowly roll forward. Joy waved happily to her mother, who waved back.

"Be careful!"

"I will Mum!"

The train turned the corner, and the platform disappeared from view. Joy went to sit down with Cay, who had come in behind her.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Not much, actually. Is Dimitri on the train?"

"No, sadly. He stayed at school for the holidays because his parents are traveling for business at the moment."

"I see." The girls whiled away the hours by playing several games of Exploding Snap and talking about anything and everything. They had also seen several of their schoolmates popping in and out of their compartment, including Maryanne, who stayed to play a few games of Exploding Snap with them, dragging in one of her friends. Before they knew it the sky outside the windows was darkening, and the train began to slow. They grabbed their trunks and headed outside to the horseless carriages that would pull them to Hogwarts Castle. Maryanne and her friend went off, and Cay and Joy sat in a musty-smelling carriage with some of their classmates, laughing and chatting as the carriages trundled up the long, winding road towards the school.

*

He looked out the frosted window, gazing down at the distant carriages growing steadily larger as they approached the castle. He knew Joy was in one of those carriages, and his heart skipped a beat when he thought of her sparkling brown eyes and long, fiery red hair. He didn't think she knew he existed.