It was a bit early for the school list to come out, but as the corsetiere was located in Diagon Alley alongside Madam Malkins, Andromeda thought they should take care of both at the same time.

They stopped at Madam Malkins first, and as she was not waiting on anyone else upon their arrival, getting measured for new school robes and casual robes took very little time. Dora was soon carrying her new robes in a small bag with an Extendable charm attached to hold whatever else they would purchase that day. The muggle way of holding all of the robes in her arms, even divided between herself and her mother, would have been terribly awkward.

Magic didn't solve everything, but it sure made life easier.

Then, they waited for the corsetiere to see Dora. There was a small entrance area, complete with a variety of both comfortable and upright chairs, magazines (corset-related, of course) on top of a few small desks, and even a long couch. The portraits on the walls featured witches wearing the tailored robes that showed off their small waists. A few, Dora noted, might even have been as small as her mother's mother. Of course, they might have been painted that way to flatter the sitter, but then again, maybe not. Despite their sizes, they looked at ease, smiling and even waving at Dora and her mother.

It wasn't enough of a distraction to ease Dora's nerves. She kept thinking of her numerous bra fittings, and how uncomfortable (physically and emotionally) it had been. Her mum, as though reading her mind, put an arm around her shoulder in a comforting manner, as though to say everything would be all right.

Before long, a witch came out, dressed in light blue robes with a waist that appeared to be larger than Andromeda's, but certainly smaller than Dora's.

"Good morning," she said, shaking each of their hands. "My name is Madam Rose Bernatte. How may I assist you ladies today?"

"Good morning, Madam Bernatte," Andromeda said, smiling. "My daughter, Dora, has just begun to train her waist. We are looking to fit her for underbust corsets for sleeping."

"Ah! Yes, a very wise decision, to use that model for resting. Please, follow me, and we shall have you measured and fitted."

Perhaps because it was a witch, or perhaps it was because it was her mum and not an aunt, or because it was simply because there were no bras to try on.

But it was far more comfortable than Dora would have expected.

Even though she was stripped down to only her underwear, and being measured and prodded by a woman she'd never met.

As Madam Bernatte worked, she tried to set Dora at ease by asking her questions about school. After that, Dora's mother asked her about how experience in the corseting world, and it was then that Madam became fully animated. She had taken over for her mother's mother, who had been in the business for almost fifty years. And she'd been working since she was a bit older than Dora.

She had a kind, friendly manner, and explained all of this as she measured her, both wearing her corset and not wearing it, and then took note of the corset's structure and measurements itself. Her focus never wavered from her task at hand. Maybe it was because her mother was in the room, or realizing there was a person with a story who genuinely wanted to help her find the best fit, but Dora was able to not dwell on the fact that she was half-naked in front of a woman she'd met less than an hour ago.

"I studied at Hogwarts, as did everyone in my family," Madam concluded. "But I had a passion for this business. Dear Grandma was looking to sell or retire, so upon my graduation, she gave me a full year of real training and handed it to me. It's been quite an experience!"

A few moments later, Dora was in her chemise and lacing herself up to twenty inches. Her mum watched, just in case she ran into difficulties, and so did Madam.

"Twenty inches already!" The witch murmured, approvingly. "And you just started this month?"

"Yes, ma'am," Dora answered. "Madam, I mean. My starting waist size was twenty-three inches."

It was slightly smaller now. About 22 and 3/4. Her mum had said this was normal.

"Good. Yes, I can see by your frame that there's plenty of room for more growth. Do you have a goal in mind?"

"I don't really know," Dora admitted, now pulling her robes over her head. "My mum's at sixteen, but she got down to fifteen before her marriage."

"But my mother was far more severe than I plan to be with Dora," Andromeda said, quickly. "I would far rather her be comfortable than anything else."

"Of course," Madam Bernatte agreed, speaking emphatically. "Back when my grandmother ran the store, she would tell me of the extremes mothers and fathers and guardians would do to ensure their child had a small waist. Barbaric things, really! Thank Merlin we have moved past that, although some mothers and daughters still tighten faster than they should, in my opinion. Your body is still growing, and we can't have you wasting away for the sake of a tiny waist!" She shook her head, and red curls shook as well. "But I don't think there's any cause to worry, here. So! You wish to order a set of underbust corsets only? You are satisfied with your mother's overbusts?"

"Yes, just the underbusts," Dora answered. "Thank you."

"And we wish to order a few of varying measurements," Andromeda specified, using the respectful yet clear tone she used for salespeople. Or, in their case, someone who owned a business...but was still selling to Dora's mum. "We need one that closes at twenty-two inches, one at twenty, and a final at eighteen. If Dora gets below sixteen inches, we will return for a final set, but this should be quite sufficient for now," Andromeda concluded, with a laugh.

Madam pulled the fabric taut over Dora's waist and studied her frame before consulting her parchment. "I do believe that Miss Tonks will reach sixteen inches by the time she is of age. Perhaps fifteen."

Dora stared at her. "Really?"

"Turn around, dear, and hold the fabric to your waist, if you will."

Dora obeyed.

"Yes. You will certainly be at sixteen inches by the time you turn seventeen. Especially," Madam added, "if you continue to lace two inches above your day waist at night most nights."

Dora couldn't help but smile at this.

After taking a deposit of fifteen galleons, Madam Bernatte promised the corsets would be ready within a week.

Dora was rather disappointed. By then, she might be sleeping normally without the new ones. But if they gave her even more room to breathe, perhaps she could persuade her mum to let her sleep a bit tighter than two inches above her "day waist."

"Let's stop for ice cream before we return home," her mum suggested, no doubt sensing Dora's disappointment.

That perked Dora up. At their favorite ice cream parlor, Andromeda enjoyed a bowl of strawberry and vanilla ice cream, while Dora picked a combination of cookies and cream, caramel, and brownie bits. It was absolutely delicious, and it was easy to linger over it.

The rest of the day passed peacefully. Dora joined her dad to watch some TV for a bit, curling up as well as she could against him as he carded her hair.

Then, it was time for dinner, a bit of light reading, and bed.

As Dora had assumed that underbust corsets for sleeping had been the good idea her mum had referred to, after she had taken a bath, her mum surprised her with the real good news.

A long back massage.

"Really?" Dora practically squealed.

This was a rare treat.

"Yes. Lay down," Andromeda promised, smiling at her daughter's reaction.

It was positively lovely. As soon as her mother's hands began to knead her shoulders, Dora felt like she was melting away, like her bones had suddenly vanished. Like she was a cat, curled up in a warm basket, underneath a blanket.

Of course, Dora was flat on her stomach, her arms at her sides, and there was no blanket. Still, she was sure she would fall asleep at any moment.

Which made her wonder how her mum was going to lace her up if she was half asleep.

She voiced some form of that question, but her mum just laughed and told her not to worry. So she didn't.

Then, nearly drifting off, she felt her nightgown tucked back along her sides, and then her body shifting as her mum tucked the night corset under her.

"Can you help me up?"

"Just stay still and relax," Andromeda murmured.

That was easy enough. Then, there was the feeling of gentle pressure, the sound of the laces being tied off, the additional feel of being enveloped in a warm hug. Then, her mum was next to Dora, moving her body to its side, and holding her against her.

"Thank you, Mummy," she murmured.

"You're most welcome."

Dora felt herself waking up after having slept what felt like several hours. There had been no nightmare this time, but the familiar sensation of panic, of not being able to breathe, came back to her.

Trying to gain a hold of herself, she tried to take a deep breath. Nothing. She couldn't fill her lungs. Again, she tried, and again, but each time, it only grew worse.

Her mum awoke, then, and her arms were around her. She lit the room.

"Slowly, honey," she murmured. "Like this."

It took a few attempts, but gradually, Dora felt like she could breathe freely.

"Good. Very good," her mum murmured. "Steady, now."

After another few minutes, Dora felt like she was herself again. So when her mother asked if she was all right, or if she'd like to be unlaced, Dora shook her head.

She slept easily throughout the rest of the night.

Andromeda gave her another wonderful back massage the following evening, and Dora slept throughout the night without any problems. The day after that, she slept with only her mum by her side, and just as well. So they agreed that Dora would try sleeping alone, and that night, too, was a success.

When Dora laced herself that morning, she discovered that she was at 19 and 1/4 inches with the same level of comfort she had felt at 20. As though this wasn't enough cause for celebration, an owl from Madam arrived at breakfast saying that Dora's underbust corsets were ready.

They made the trip immediately after breakfast.

"How tightly shall I lace you, dear?" Madam asked Dora.

She looked at her mum for help.

"What do you say, honey? Twenty-two, or twenty-one and a quarter?" Andromeda asked, kindly. To the stay maker, she added, "Dora just reached nineteen and a quarter this morning."

"What good news!" Madam beamed. "Well, whatever she's to be laced to this evening, she ought to be laced to that now."

"I'd like to try twenty-one and a quarter," Dora determined, and both adults nodded.

She took a deep breath as Madam pulled on the laces. She was faster than her mother, but not so much that it was too much for Dora to handle. Before long, she closed off the laces.

"How does it feel, dear?" Madam asked.

Dora considered. Her new corset didn't exactly inhibit her breathing, but it was far stiffer than the ones she was used to. It felt rather less like the warm hug she was accustomed to, and a bit more restrictive.

"It's...rather stiff," she admitted.

"Dora's been wearing my old corsets," Andromeda intervened, "which I had broken in at her age, and her body is nearly identical to how mine was back then."

"Ah, so your mother did the seasoning for you," Madam noted, with a nod. "Lucky girl. Most young ladies I've seen aren't quite as similar to their mothers' bodies were, and they can't wear their old corsets." She turned to Dora, sounding a bit apologetic. "I'm afraid, my dear, that some stiffness is to be expected in a new corset. Rest assured, it will mold to your body soon enough, and faster since you'll be wearing it to sleep in. Within a few days, you'll be completely at home in it."

Dora nodded. She wasn't having any trouble with breathing, and really, it wasn't too uncomfortable...just less comfortable than she had expected.

Still, the smaller size and the fact that the corset ended just below her breasts began made it less of a hassle that her day ones had been. Should the need arise for her to go downstairs at night, Dora realized, she'd have her full line of vision.

Andromeda and Madam examined it closely, making suggestions for the removal of fabric and boning where it ran a bit too long, and Madam made those changes with a wave of her wand and a few muttered incantations. Within the time these changes took place, or perhaps (in part, anyway) because of the alterations, Dora felt her new night corset become a bit less stiff, a bit more comfortable in the way she was used to.

Madam modified the other corsets without having Dora try them on, but insisted that if there were any problems once Dora got "a bit smaller," they were to return at no extra cost.

"My work comes with a lifetime guarantee. They will hold up to your daughter's waist training, I can assure you," she promised. "If there are any problems, any at all, you must let me know and I will fix them."

Dora did not wear the new corset out of the shop, but changed into her tighter (but well broken in) pair, with only the air of the mirror. She practically melted into the warm, reassuring hug, not minding the extra tightness nor height. Still, if Madam was right, her new pair would feel just as nice soon enough...

They celebrated with another trip to the ice cream parlor.

When it came time to lace down for the evening, though, Andromeda thought it best that Dora not lace below twenty-two inches.

"They're new, after all, and you're not yet used to them. Best to take it as easy as possible," she advised.

Dora knew better than to protest.

Once finished and in bed, Dora felt both more comfortable and less comfortable than before. She had a wider range of movement and would be able to rise easier when the time came-or if she needed to use the loo at night. At the same time, she'd rather forgotten over the day that they were new and stiff. It took nearly as long to fall asleep as it had the first night, but at least she didn't wake up feeling unable to breathe or having experienced nightmares.

Instead, when she rose, she experienced the familiar feeling of being hugged. The corset still wasn't as comfortable as her other ones, not yet, but it had molded to her body a bit during the night. All the same, she was eager to get out of it and into her day one.

"How did you sleep?" her mum asked, as Dora began the now familiar process of self-lacing.

"Not as well as usual, but nothing like the first night," Dora answered, honestly. "I think it adapted to my body a bit in my sleep."

"That's good. Give it another day or so, maybe three days, and you'll find yourself completely at ease in it," Andromeda assured her. "When I purchased my new pairs after you were born, it was about three days of continuous wear for the day ones to feel at ease, and perhaps a bit longer for my night ones."

Once Dora had finished lacing to the point of comfort, her mother measured her and saw that she managed another 1/4 of an inch, making her waist a very slender to 19 inches.

"You're getting quite a wasp waist!" her mum said, smiling broadly, as they viewed her reflection in the mirror. "A real hourglass figure!"

Dora knew these were compliments, but she had no idea what they meant.

"A wasp waist was a term coined by muggles in the 1800's," Andromeda explained. "If you've ever seen one, their stomach is tiny, but the body above and below isn't. The stomach...indents, as it were. And an hourglass, well, you've seen the ones that tell the house points? How the middle where the grains of sand flow is tiny?"

Dora concentrated, then nodded. "And these are good?"

"Very. Although I suppose an hourglass is rather more flattering than a wasp."

"Definitely," Dora agreed, grinning.

They decided to keep track of her progress. Neither was entirely sure how long it had taken to get from 22 inches to 21 or 20, but they could estimate.

"You ought to write down if you have any trouble with a particular food. You haven't, so far, but it's something to keep in mind. You will want to be very careful at the Hogwarts feasts, as there will be a lot of rich food. The last thing you want is to get sick the night before classes begin, but sometimes you won't know you can't eat something until afterwards." Andromeda made a face, as though remembering something unpleasant. "Just take small portions and eat slowly."

"School is still weeks away, Mum," Dora complained.

"Yes, and I will remind you again," her mum promised, with a smile.

Becky wrote back the following day, after an even more restful night's sleep on Dora's end, accepting the Tonks family invitation of spending two weeks in August at their house. She included that they would issue a floo-call before arriving via the Floo network.

"Why don't they Apparate?" Ted asked, looking up from his scrambled eggs.

"They still think that side along Apparition isn't considered entirely safe before you're seventeen," Dora explained. "Becky said she became awfully sick the one time her mum had to do it with her. I forget why."

"If that was her first time, I could hardly expect otherwise," Andromeda said, mildly enough, but disapproving. "The Ministry now says it's perfectly safe after the age of ten, and perhaps even earlier."

"No harm in being cautious, I expect," Ted remarked, reaching for his coffee. "Even if it's unnecessary."

Dora's thoughts were elsewhere, causing her to nearly miss stabbing the eggs with her fork. Sure, Becky was from a wizarding family, and her mum thought most of the girls in her house would arrive in corsets instead of bras. Still, the idea of telling her closest friend made her nervous.

Her mum must have noticed she was uneasy, but she didn't say anything just then.

Later, after Dora had bathed and her mum was lacing her up (they'd come to an agreement that Dora would self-lace half the time and her mum would the other half. She liked the feel of being laced up, and the time with her mum. She also knew that if she didn't self-lace at least some of the time, she'd return to school clumsy), her mum asked her if she was worried about Becky's visit.

Her mum could be extremely perceptive, sometimes.

Dora didn't answer immediately. It wasn't because of any lack of breath, although she certainly felt a change from going from her nighttime underbust corset to her daily overbust. Given her preference, she would have worn the underbust instead... but then she'd need to wear a bra. Still, each morning, she certainly felt a difference, some added restriction, until she got used to it.

"I'm worried about what she'll think of...this," Dora admitted, gesturing to her chest.

Her mum pulled her into a hug. "I felt the same way."

"Really?"

"Slytherin isn't all pure-blood, honey. About half of the girls my year had one muggle or muggle-born parent. We all wore the uniform and casual robes outside of class, but there were distinctions between us. Even of those who were pure-blood, because you could still have distant muggle family and call yourself that. Well, not my family, but most. Bella told me she'd threatened to curse a few girls in her year because they said her corset looked too tight. Mind," Andromeda added, "I'm sure it was. But my sister enjoyed pain, both inflicting it on others, but also seeing what she could stand. I'm certain that's the only way she could bear a fourteen inch waist."

"What happened? When you returned to school?"

Andromeda smiled, and handed Dora the blue robe that she'd laid out on her bed.

"Everyone except two had begun lacing to an extent. One girl, Mildred, immediately sent an owl to her mother begging her to be allowed to start. The other, Hannah, thought we were all mad and made a show of taking deep breaths when she saw us lacing. As though to say, 'Look! I can breathe properly, and you can't!'"

"What happened?" Dora asked, as they left her room, and headed to the sitting room.

Andromeda sat on the large couch, and Dora easily took a spot next to her.

As her mum began to run a hand through her hair, Dora knew this would be a long (and good) story. She nestled against her mum, savoring the feeling of her arm around her, combined (of course) with the gentle and firm hug of her own corset.

"Mildred had to wait until the Christmas holidays, because her mother wanted her to be properly fitted. She went without for the months in between, and when we returned from Christmas holidays, she was still rather elated." Andromeda smiled fondly at the memory. "Took to training rather well. Started out rather on the heavy side, as was her older sister, but throughout our time at school, she managed a very tidy nineteen inch waist. Lost quite a lot of her plumpness, too. You can't overeat without loosening your corset, as you well know, and Mildred preferred a small waist over the extra food."

Dora nodded, her experience with the cake all too vivid in her mind. What if she hadn't been able to unlace? Stomach pains all night, most likely.

"And Hannah? Did she leave you alone after awhile?"

Andromeda's face a bit pink. "After a month of this, we'd decided we'd had enough. It was one thing to be hated by other houses, but we prided ourselves on our unity. Hannah was being awful, we felt. So, on a Friday night when she was asleep, we put her in a full body bind and Edith-who we'd determined was the same size as her-put one of her corsets on her. Well, it wasn't just Edith," Andromeda added. "Margaret and Eloise measured her waist over her nightgown, which was twenty-four inches, and they laced her down to twenty-two. The corset closed at twenty, and I thought she was getting off easy. My mother took me down four inches the first day, and my sisters three and three and a half, mind you! Two inches was, I later learned, quite a standard reduction."

Dora stared at her mother. "What happened?"

"Once Margaret tied off the laces and locked them, she removed the body bind, so Hannah could move properly. She was furious, and a bit panicked after she realized she couldn't unlace on her own," Andromeda added, looking rather embarrassed. "We told her she had to stay like that for an hour, and then we'd unlace her. She kept saying that we were barbaric, that she was going to faint, and all sorts of other things that, while not entirely true, were likely fully felt."

"I don't entirely blame her," Dora murmured. "It's one thing to agree to be laced up, but to be placed in a body bind and laced against your will..."

Andromeda put an arm around her shoulders. "You're right, it was rather cruel."

"What happened after the hour was up?"

"We let her go, and she made a big show of saying how we'd nearly killed her and crushed her lungs and her ribs," Andromeda said, rolling her eyes a bit. "Later, she admitted it wasn't as bad as she'd said it was, but she'd still take bras over being laced up. Which was fine, that was between Hannah and her parents, and we'd never intended to force her to train. She was a lot more pleasant afterwards, and could even be relied upon to assist when needed.

"Now," she added, with a smile, "when she married, I saw her picture in the Daily Prophet, and I am convinced that she was laced up at the time. The bodice of her robes gave it all away. She likely was taken in a couple of inches for the occasion. Which is really quite standard, even if you don't wear a corset usually. A wedding is a grand event, and every bride wants to look her best. I am certain that if I had married a pure blood, my mother would have forced me to train until I was at 14, even if it nearly killed me."

Dora snorted. "Well, she married at 13 inches, didn't see?"

Her mum laughed. "And there wasn't a smile in any of her wedding photos."

Dora knew that some people didn't always smile in photos back then, but she rather thought that being laced to fainting point would have made smiling near impossible.

Author's note:

Next up: A family holiday.

If you're enjoying this work, please let me know by leaving a review.

To the guest reviewer who wishes to translate my work into Chinese: please send me a private message, as I have some questions. Thanks!