A/N: Sorry It's been a while since I updated. Been busy doing my Quidditch Captain duties lol. I hope you really like this update. Thanks so much to those people who liked/favourite/followed/reviewed.

Chapter 5

When Lily awoke the next morning she felt rather disorientated. The bed beneath her was soft and comfortable, the canopy above her head was cream, and the walls a rosy pink. 'Where am I?' thought Lily for a moment. Then it all came crashing back to her. She'd been evacuated, and she was staying in a big house with some posh folks. Lily laid there listening, but it was quiet, too quiet. She rolled out of bed and headed to the window and pulled the curtains, gallons of sunlight flooded the bedroom. The scene before her was rural and spread for miles and miles.

She could see green fields, trees, bushes, and animals at a distance. She looked directly down, and saw a concrete path that lead to barns and stables, and a large shed. Once Lily had surveyed all there was to be seen from the window, she moved back to the bed and sat down. What should she do? Did she have to sit and wait here for the maid to come and get her, or would Dorea come and fetch her?

After a while, Lily got to be restless. She moved from the bed and went to the door and pulled it open.

"Oh hello ducks," said Milly in surprise as Lily was completely naked. "Let's get you dressed and take you down to the kitchen and get some breakfast, everyone else has had theirs."

Milly led her back into the bedroom and Lily sat down on the edge of the bed.

"'Ave ya got any clean clothes mi love?" asked Milly.

"Nah miss, I haven't," said Lily sadly.

"We thought not, so the Mistress has gone into Alton on the horse and cart to go shopping," supplied Milly. "Now what can we wrap you up in?"

Milly brow puckered in thought, then her face smoothed out as an idea come to her.

"I know, Master James has an old dressing gown that dun't fit him anymore, you can make do in that."

So Milly left her room and went to find the old dressing gown. When she returned she held an old blue cotton dressing gown. She slipped it on to the child, it was a bit big for her, so Milly rolled the sleeves up a couple of times so Lily could use her hands.

"You'll do mi duck, now come along to the kitchen."

Milly led the child to the kitchen to leave her in Missus Braithway's care.

"Morning Lit'len, did you sleep alright?"

"Yes fanks," replied Lily a little shyly.

"Would ya like some porridge and toast?"

"Yes please Missus."

Missus Braithway bustled about making Lily a cup of tea and plcing it in front of the child. Then proceeded to make the porridge and toast. That was where Dorea found her.

"Morning darling, did you sleep alright?" asked Dorea anxiously.

Lily just stared momentarily, before she could find the words to speak.

"Yes Fanks," said Lily shyly.

"When you're done eating, I have something for you," said Dorea with a smile.

"Would you like a cuppa while you wait Miss?" asked Missus Braithway.

"Yes please, I'm parched."

They resounded to silence as Lily ate quietly, and Dorea sipped a cup of tea. Missus Braithway had moved to the back scullery to start washing up.

"All ready then love?" after the last morsel of toast had disappeared from her plate.

Lily nodded and went to stand by Dorea. She led the child up to her bedroom and Lily saw all sorts of packages open on her bed.

One contained underwear, vests and socks. Another, dresses of different design, blouses and skirts. A new winter coat, jumpers and cardigans. Also new nightwear and a fluffly looking warm dressing gown.

"Is...is this all for me?" asked Lily in surprise.

"It is sweetheart, but I need to take you with me to get your feet properly measured, so I can get you some new shoes." Dorea smiled at the girl as she examined the clothes.

"Fank you!" said Lily gratefully as she threw herself into Dorea's arms and hugged her.

Dorea was momentarily shocked, but she wound her arms around the child and held her.

"Come along then, you get dressed and I'll show you around a bit more," said Dorea huskily.

Dorea left the room whilst Lily washed and dressed. She went in search of her husband.

"Hello love, did Lily like the stuff you got for her?" asked Charlus in concern.

"Yes, she did. One minute she was looking at the stuff on the bed, the next she was in my arms thanking me," said Dorea softly. "You know, I don't think that poor little scrap has ever had new clothes, judging from what she was wearing yesterday and from what Miss Greer told me earlier when she stopped by, her mother doesn't give a fig for her daughter."

"Women like her don't serve kids love, but we'll make her welcome, no worries about that," Charlus proclaimed with feeling.

When Lily was ready, Dorea and Charlus took Lily by her hands and led her outside to show her the land that surrounded the manor. They showed her the gardens, thought the flower beds were in the process of being dug up and over to make way for the new blooms come the spring. There was an orchard which had a profusion of apple trees, that were soon ready to be picked and stored away in the pantry to be used over the winter, spring and summer. They showed her the stables where their six horses lived, two being huge Shire's for use during the ploughing in the spring.

They didn't show her Home Farm, they felt it would have been too much for the girl in one day. They all returned to the house for lunch. After which Dorea took the girl up to the games room and showed her where all the games and books were stored.

"Now my little love, feel free to play up here anytime you like. Okay?" asked Dorea.

"Yes Dorea," replied Lily.

Dorea led Lily into the room and sat on the rug by the fire.

"Now what would you like to do?"

"Could you read to me?" asked Lily shyly.

"Of course I can darling, go and get a book."

Lily scampered over to the bookcase and chose a copy of 'Alice in Wonderland' and went to sit with Dorea. That was where Charlus, James and Sirius found them a lot later on.