Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: This is my first fanfic... the plot bunnies wouldn't stop bouncing around in my head until I wrote this. Please read and review!

Just another day at the palace… following around the Princess, who once again was no where to be found. Rather than chasing her around today, Cain decided to just sit where he knew she would eventually end up—in her room on her balcony.

The threats had subsided several months prior and while he was no less willing to give up being her “tin shadow,” there were days in which Cain felt that DG shouldn’t take his presence for granted. This was one of them. Too bad that he couldn’t seem to shake the boredom that inevitably showed up every time she wasn’t around to keep him entertained.

He’d been waiting for about 20 minutes so far. Any time now, he thought, she’ll be back and exhausted from her latest escapade through the palace's secret passages. Wandering around the room, Cain spied a brightly colored book with a child riding a broomstick. What the ?? he wondered, but then remembered that this was one of those things that they just HAD to go back to Kansas for. Almost forgot in fact, and DG had to run back in the house as they “held” the traveling storm for her.

The shadows in the room began to become more evident, but Cain did not stir, so engrossed in his book, he did not even notice when the lights began to ignite around the palace, as they did when the suns went down. He laughed at the threesome, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and their child-like adventures while facing real-life adult problems. He even started to wish he had a lighting-shaped scar, maybe then he’d get more “fun” attention from DG instead of crawling under furniture trying to get her to go to the latest lesson with Tutor. So engrossed was he, that he didn’t even hear the door open and the soft footsteps coming up behind him…

“THERE YOU ARE!” DG exclaimed in her loud and breathless way, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you! I thought we were going to have to send a search party since you’ve disappeared all day…. Wait, what are you reading??” Cain, jolted from his imaginary world of Hogwarts, glanced up rather sheepishly trying to (unsuccessfully) hide the book from her view.

DG stood over him with her hand out, “Give it to me, Cain.”

He handed it over, not quite looking her in the eye, as though he was a child caught doing something he shouldn’t. “I wasn’t finished with that…” he mumbled.

Glancing at the title, DG started to giggle… “You’ve been reading Harry Potter! All day!?! No wonder we haven’t seen you.” More giggling…. “If I knew you were that easy to get rid of, I would have given you the book ages ago.”

He glanced up at her, a little pink around the ears, “I was just waiting for you to get back from your lesson, and instead of chasing you, I decided to wait you out. I figured it was a brilliant plan, but… then I found the book, and well, I lost track of time.”

More giggling… “I know right? JK is totally awesome. Just wait until you read the rest of them.”

Now he smiles, “Wait, there are more of them??”

“Of course there are more!” DG responded, “Harry has 7 years of school AND he had to defeat Voldemort. It’s totally amazing what she does- you won’t even believe how it ends.” She pauses, “Now tell me, what made you pick it up in the first place?”

Cain shuffled in his chair, “Well, I remembered that it was a book that you had to run back for, and well, I just wanted something to pass the time before you got back, and then I read the title. I was just curious about what the Other Side thought about magic.”

“And?” DG continued.

“And… it’s amazing, it makes me wish I could have a magic wand and everything. It must have been fantastic when you realized that you really could do magic and all after you read them. I’m… I’m kind of jealous now. Harry Potter makes it so much better than just watching you open doors, twirl things and stuff” said Cain in a rush.

DG giggled again, “Wingardium Leviosa” as she flicked her hand up.

Cain began to rise off the chair in surprise- only he wasn’t touching the ground. “DG…. Put me down!”

“Oh this is too fun.” She laughed… Behind her more footsteps approached—and another startled laugh. “Hey Az” said DG.

“DG, I see you found Mr. Cain. What are you doing to the poor man?” Az asked.

“Oh, I was just having a bit of Harry Potter inspired fun. Apparently that’s what he’s been doing all day- reading my favorite books.”

“The ones about the magic wands and evil wizard and stuff?”

“Yep, those are the ones.”

“DG, get me down.” Cain stated with all of the nerve he could muster from 6 feet off the ground. His face was turning a lovely shade of red at this point.

“Why? You’re so cute up there! And I’m definitely enjoying the view from down below.” She nodded appreciatively at the prime view of his exquisitely tailored behind, beaming at him.

Az giggled again. “DG, I’m pretty sure that it wouldn’t be good if anyone else found Mr. Cain in this particular… predicament. You’d better let him down.”

“Yes,” Cain stated through clenched teeth, “Put me down and maybe, just maybe, I won’t punish you for this later.” A wicked glint flashed in his eye.

DG’s eyes widened a bit at that look, guessing that the fun might actually be over—for now. “Okay, I’ll play nice now.” She then lowered her hand ever so slightly as he gracefully dropped to the ground. While he righted himself, she again flicked her hand, his hat leaped off his head and onto her outstretched palm.

“Catch me if you can, Cain!” And she raced down the hall.

He knew he should be angry, but the situation at that point was too funny. He winked at Az and grabbed his things before moving after DG. “She’s gonna need that head start… no amount of magic will save her when I find her.”

Az stood there watching him pick up the pace as he left the room. She murmured to no one in particular, “I wonder how long until DG lets him catch her. That’s always when the real fun begins... Guess I’ll have to make their excuses at dinner again.” Her smile broadened at as a new thought graced her mind…

Taking a cue from DG, she wandered down the hall in search of Jeb… “I wonder what he’d do if I stole his hat?” she mused. Rounding the corner, she found him walking down the stairs from his office. He smiled as he saw her approach. With a quick flick of her hand, she too was in possession of the favored accessory of the Cain men—“Catch me if you can, Jeb!” And she took off down the hall, with the younger Cain hot on her heels laughing.

Apparently two princesses would be missing at dinner that evening.