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THE BLITZ was unlike any horror the children of England ever knew. It was terrible and seemingly never-ending. Danger showered down from the sky weekly. It shook the walls of houses, collapsed buildings, started fires, and exploded structures on every street. England wasn't safe. None of the Porter children could sleep, knowing they might have to wake in the night and rush to the bunker. It was no way to live.

Their Aunt was more agitated than usual, stressed. The responsibility of the children had always been more than Alexandra wanted. She had no choice but to take the four of them in when her sister had passed. However, with the war taking over England, she couldn't keep them in her home. She had to worry about herself and her things, the kids were only adding irritating stress to her life. The woman had called in a few favors, rung up old friends booked train tickets. The city wasn't safe, and every family that could afford it was sending their children to the countryside to escape the war. Sure, Alexandra's motives were twisted, but it eased her mind to know that she was technically doing the right thing.

The Porter children were given one day's notice; They were to pack their things in their trunks and prepare to leave home. They were to be staying with Aunt Alexandra's friend's friend from childhood; Polly Plummer.

Eleanor shifts her weight, looking down at the small paper in her hand. It had an address and Polly's name written on it in neat, loopy handwriting. The train ride had been excruciatingly long, especially because they didn't know where they were going. Micheal had been restless the whole time, asking questions none of his only siblings had answers too, and fidgeting in his seat. Now the four siblings were standing on the side of the road, waiting for the cat that was supposed to pick them up. Louis was seated on the steps to the platform, his luggage resting next to him.

"Maybe she didn't arrange a car," the boy suggests. "Just wanted to leave us here to di-"

"She arranged a car," Lillian cuts her twin off.

"I know," Louis sighs, leaning back and resting his forearms on the steps behind him. "Only joking," A silence falls over the siblings, and for a moment Eleanor can't help but wonder if Louis's joke was correct. Just when she's about to suggest they all sit down, the sound of a motor fills the fresh air. A car. Louis gets to his feet, picking up his trunk as the car pulls up. A man leans out the open window.

"You uh- the Potter kids?" He asks, his voice gruff. He was chewing on a cigarette and his hat covered most of his messy hair.

"Um, Porter..?" Lillian asks, stepping forward a bit and squinting in the sunlight.

"Yeah, that's what I said. You goin' to the Plummer estate, right?" The twins exchange a glance. Eleanor looks down at the paper in her hand.

"Yes," she confirms. "Yes, Polly Plummer, this says," She could see Micheal in her peripheral vision, rocking back and forth of his heels and swinging his luggage in his arms.

"Yeah yeah, it's not far, get in, I've got other routes today, you know," Eleanor nods, folding the paper up and putting it in her coat pocket. She walks to the other side of the car, getting into the passenger seat as the twins and Micheal pile into the back. The car rumbles along the uneven road.

After seeing a house you would drive for miles before seeing another. No wonder the countryside wasn't being attacked.  If you wanted to real damage, you would go for the cities. Eleanor, for one, was glad to be out of there. Maybe now they could rest easy for a while. Lillian agreed in that regard. Finally, they would feel somewhat safe.

Louis and Micheal resented the move. Micheal sat with his armed crossed defensively, his head resting on the window as he kept his eyes glued to the blurring world passing outside. The country was bound to be the most boring place on earth. Micheal was a curious kid, he couldn't do without something to explore. Sure, Polly's home was bound to be somewhat interesting, but once he was through with it there would be nothing left. He had expressed this concern to his siblings, but Eleanor had openly rolled her eyes at the complaint. She didn't understand.

Louis, being older than Micheal, didn't suffer the same issue of boredom. He often found a way to amuse himself with a pencil and blank paper. However, he was in no better mood than his brother. Leaving his home city, his friends, his life behind wasn't something he'd ever imagined having to do. He shakes his head, grumbling to himself. "I can't believe we're doing this," he mutters. This has all happened so quickly, there was no time to adjust or process. Just suitcases tossed at them and hours to pack everything.

"Cheer up, Lou," Lillian scolds her brother under her breath. "You're dampening the mood," Lillian wasn't exactly thrilled, but she was glad to be out of the city. She couldn't take the stress of it all, this would be a fresh start, a break from all the restless nights, the endless bad news, their aunt. A break from their aunt was certainly a positive. "Look!" The girl says suddenly, leaning over her twin brother to see out the front windshield. They were quickly approaching their temporary home. It looked well kept, a good sign indeed. There was a long path up to the front steps, an endless yard spreading out on either side. The house was more of a small mansion, and the property was even larger. Polly Plummer had clearly made a name of herself, taking in quite a bit of money.

As the children climb out of the car, Eleanor digs some money out of her pocket to tip the driver. Dollars in hand, the driver is off before the girl can say much of anything to him. The kids stand in a row on the side of the road, watching the car rush away, the wheels causing clouds of dirt to float up into the air before clearing again. There's a moment of silence before they all turn to look at the house, each child holding their single suitcase by its handle.

Eleanor shades her eyes with her free hand to look up at the building in the sunlight. "It's rather large, isn't it?" She comments softly. Her blonde hair was braided back and under a cap. It was a bit warmer here in the country than it had been in the city. None of the Porters respond, all of them simply looking at the house and taking it in. Eleanor glances at her siblings before sighing softly. "Come along then," She says, leading the way up the path.

Slowly, Louis, Lillian, and Micheal follow, each of them internally preparing themselves for meeting their new guardian. The four of them stopped at the doorstep. Eleanor pauses, smoothing out the front of her dress and adjusting her hat before knocking on the door. Silence. Eleanor hesitates, glancing back at her siblings. Micheal was impatient.

"Knock again," he suggests almost immediately. Eleanor sighs quietly, looking back to the door. As soon as she raises her hand again, the large door swings open, revealing a tall man dressed in formal attire. He looked extremely unimpressed. "Oh, the children," He drawled, glancing over his shoulder and back into the house. "Polly the children have arrived," He calls back. The man looks back to the Porters, scanning them. They didn't look unpleasant, as long as they weren't too loud he wouldn't have much of a problem with them. "Well, come in," he says, stepping back and giving them room to enter the building.

All the children hesitate, but Lillian is the first to step forward, going ahead of Eleanor and walking inside. Eleanor is just behind her, then Micheal, and finally Louis, who hung back the longest. The foyer was beautiful. Paintings hung around the walls and sculptures were placed on small tables. The lighting figure was large and almost an art piece on its own, draped with glittering glass crystals. A large wooden staircase was on the back wall, spitting in two direct directions to lead to two direct wings of the house. There's a long moment of quiet as all the children take in the entrance hall.

"This room needs more windows," Micheal announces suddenly.

"Micheal!" Eleanor exclaims, nudging her brother and scowling at him in disapproval. She knew he was moping, but insulting their host wouldn't benefit anyone. The man who let them in chuckles, standing near the banister to the stairs.

"No... he's right," The man agrees, looking ever so slightly amused. "But Polly inherited this house, and the will requested that no renovations be made," He spoke in a cold voice, even when he wasn't saying anything particularly rude. He wasn't a warm man, but he wasn't really cruel. He simply came off like he didn't care for anything, or have much time for others. Lillian was facing the right wall, looking at some of the paintings. It was of a waterfall, pouring down over the edge of a high cliff.

"This is lovely," She comments, trying to at least compliment the house after Micheal's disapproval. The man glances over at her, nodding gently.

"Yes they are, aren't they?" He says, referring to all the paintings on the right. He sighs, smoothing out the fabric of his dress shirt "Polly painted all of those over there. She fancies herself an artist,"

"I don't fancy myself an artist, Nathanial," A voice from the top of the grand staircase says. "I am an artist," Standing on the top step; was Polly Plummer. If the Porters had known Professor Diggory, as the Pevensie children did, they would have correctly guessed that she was about the same age as him. The woman was wearing a long lavender dress, a string of pearls, and her straight hair had strands of grey among the strands. She looks at the children and smiles. "Welcome to my home, you must be the Porter children," She was already far warmer than Nathanials' welcome was. She makes her way down the staircase, her hand sliding down the banister as she walks. "I'm Polly, and this is my cousin Nathaniel," She gestures to the tall man who had let them in and walks to the children. "Now, you must tell me your names so I will remember," Eleanor places a hand on Micheal's shoulder, him being closest to her.

"I'm Eleanor," She says, her voice steady. "This is Micheal, Lillian, and Louis," She nods to each of her siblings as she says their names.

"Did you really paint all of these yourself?" Lillian speaks up after Eleanor is done, looking at the paintings on the right wall. Polly smiles softly.

"Well quite a few of them are mine, yes," She tells them, clasping her hands together elegantly. "But I truly adore collecting as well, so there are a few that aren't my work," Lillian nods, letting out a small 'ah' in response. Polly smiles, her eyes twinkling with a certain kindness that was hard to come by. "Now, I'll show you all to your rooms so you can unpack and make yourselves comfortable," She turns and starts walking up the stairs, beckoning the children to follow her. "You'll be staying in the left-wing," she adds, leading them in that direction.

Again, Lillian moves forward first, her and her siblings following after Polly Plummer, further into the large home.