A few days later, they left for their annual two-week holiday at the beach. Uncle Alphard had given them a house there back when they got married, in addition to the money that generated their income through the goblin investments. She knew that both were smaller than the home her mum had grown up in, which by her accounts was large enough for at least twenty people. Of course, her male cousins had lived in an even larger house, and there were only four of them.

"You can add on rooms and floors by magic, but we've never felt the need to. Our parents did, not because of any lack of space, but because it was a form of status," Andromeda had explained.

"You could easily get lost in Dromeda's house," Ted had put in.

"And I did, as a girl! Fortunately, I had only to call one of our elves, and he or she would set me straight," she laughed.

Their house was more than large enough for their needs. There were five bedrooms, only two of which received any regular use, a kitchen, a dining room, a roomy sitting room, a library, and a Potions lab. Then, there were four bathrooms.

Dora never felt that she lacked for space, especially in her roomy bedroom that was about half the size of the room she shared with her roommates, but she also never feared getting lost.

Their beach house was a bit larger than their home, which Dora thought was strange because they never had visitors. For as long as they could remember, it had only been the three of them who went there every summer. Dora had never asked if her friends could visit. It felt like it should only be used by herself and her parents-and her uncle, should he ever decide to stop by. All the same, the house included seven bedrooms, an entertainment room that was so large it could be used for balls, and a hidden room that could only be accessed by magic-in case of intruders, her parents had explained a few years back.

But what Dora loved most about the house was that nearly every room had some view of the beach, (and her room had a direct view of the ocean!) so as soon as she was out of doors, she could run to the ocean.

Well, that was before she'd begun her waist-training. Dora sobered a bit at the thought, wondering what their trip would be like now, and especially if she would be able to swim.

Her mum seemed surprised when Dora broached the subject.

"You can wear whatever you like, honey. It's a holiday, after all." She'd held Dora close to her, and then kissed her on the forehead. "Lace up at the house if you like, but you certainly don't need to do so all the time, and prevent yourself from being able to swim or running about in the sand."

Dora had certainly been relieved to hear this.

Packing, thanks to her mum's spells, took practically no time at all. Just after breakfast (after which Dora did not lace up) they did a last check around the house before her mother determined that they were ready. Dora held onto her mother and father's hands as they Apparated from their house to their vacation house.

Side along Apparition had been downright awful the first few times, but by now, she barely thought about it. If anything, traveling by Floo powder was worse-more dizzying. The smell of salt water overpowered her nose, in a good way. Taking deep breaths, she followed her parents into the house rather slowly.

"Come along, sweetie. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the beach in a bit," her dad urged her, grinning.

Like Dora, he possessed a similar love for the beach. Her mum enjoyed it as well, but often wished it wasn't quite so...sandy.

Thanks to magic, and her mother's magic in particular, unpacking took very little time, and soon they were eating a late breakfast/early lunch.

"I expect you'll want to go swimming once we finish?" her dad asked, grinning.

"Definitely! Can I, Mum?"

"Of course. I don't suppose I can keep you from the ocean much longer," her mum teased. "I'll be out with a book in a bit."

Changing out of her clothes didn't take long, but it felt a little odd to know that she would be unlaced not for a half an hour or so, but the better part of the day. Deep breaths came a bit more easily, of course, and she could run without getting out of breath. Still, Dora rather missed her corset. She now thought it was rather a pity there couldn't be ones designed for swimming.

Her dad nearly raced into the water while Dora was having these thoughts, and promptly scooped her into his arms.

"Daddy!" she half protested, half giggled. "You startled me!"

Ted grinned. "Water's nice, isn't it?"

It was. Warmer than Dora had remembered. Of course, her swimming robes had a mild heating charm, and she expected her father's did as well. She'd seen what muggles swam in, and it was even more revealing than what they wore in public.

"It is. I love being here," Dora agreed. "It's so peaceful, you know?"

The house included all the connections to the wizarding and muggle world, with the exception of a television. Her mum had put her foot down, there. They didn't watch loads of TV at home, but ever since this muggle invention called a "VCR" and "VHS tapes" came out, the amounts were creeping up. Everyone had their favorite shows, and to be able to record them and watch them later was lovely.

But not as lovely as the beach. She could spend all day there.

"It is," her dad agreed. "I often wish we could spend as much time here as we did when you were a kid."

"How much was that?"

"As soon as you were about four, we were here from the beginning of June to the end of August. Water was mighty cold until July, of course, so we used extra powerful heating charms." He looked at Dora fondly. "Alphard would visit, before he passed away, and would never go into the water, but sit with your mum and watch us play."

"It's a pity we can't stay for that long anymore," Dora said, with a sigh.

"I know. Three months is a thing of the past, what with your schooling, but I have been working at getting your mum to agree to a full month." Ted smiled. "She's almost agreed to three weeks next summer."

"Why should a month be difficult?" Dora asked, as they jumped over a massive wave.

"It shouldn't, really. But she's concerned that you would have trouble finishing your homework, what with the distraction of the beach, and being away from the wizarding world for so long," he explained.

"Dad, I finished my summer assignments in the first week of holidays," Dora reminded him.

"Well, if we both work on her, perhaps she'll agree. But what about your friends?"

It went unspoken that this was a family holiday only. Dora never minded. Especially this year, if she was being honest. She and her mother had become much closer, but she felt that she was ignoring her father. But with their love of the beach, they would easily spend hours together over the next two weeks.

"I would have all of August, and anyway, many are on holiday with their families," Dora pointed out. "Please, Dad, let's try to persuade Mum!"

He grinned. "All right, hon."

When they came out of the water several hours later for a late tea (really, an early dinner), Andromeda rose from the table where she'd been reading to cast a Drying charm and a Warming charm on them.

"Have a nice swim?" she asked, smiling at them.

Dora nodded as she sunk into a chair. "The water was brilliant, Mum. You should come with us tomorrow, really."

"Perhaps." She eyed them. "I suppose you're too tired to change into your regular robes?"

"It will be time to change for bed before too long," Ted reasoned. "Might as well skip the extra step."

Andromeda laughed and served each of them a plate of food.

Even though she was not wearing a corset, Dora had become so used to eating carefully that it was easy enough to stay that way. Also, her mum's small smiles of approval throughout the meal helped. There was dessert-chocolate ice cream with caramel bits spread throughout-but ice cream was easier to digest while laced up than many other foods. Still, Dora settled on one (rather large) helping, and ate slowly and lingeringly.

Dora showered afterwards, using the same shampoo her mum had used on her since she was a baby. It was intended for small children, because it was charmed never to get close to the eyes of the recipient, and had the added benefit of giving a lovely massage as it cleaned the hair. The massage varied in length depending on how dirty the hair was, and after being in salty water for much of the day, Dora experienced a very long scalp massage that nearly put her to sleep. Then, there was the matching conditioner that combed her hair, and Dora vaguely wondered if she'd make it out of the tub fully awake.

She managed well enough, and donned her nightgown once in her bedroom. Her mum had unpacked all of her clothes, but she wasn't sure where the corsets were. With a small feeling of dread, Dora hoped that they hadn't been forgotten.

"Mum," she called. "I can't find my night corset!"

Andromeda came upstairs with her usual brisk, yet unhurried, speed.

"I put them in the top drawer," she explained, opening it up. "The ones on the right are for sleeping."

Dora had been checking her closet, and felt a combination of relief and embarrassment.

"I was afraid we'd forgotten them."

Andromeda pulled her into a hug. "Even if we had, we could have always returned."

Dora nodded, then removed her newest one. "Would you put it on me?" she asked, almost shyly.

"Of course. I'll take you down to twenty-one, all right?"

As Dora was still at nineteen inches during the day, she nodded.

Her bedroom contained a full-length mirror, so she could see her mother at her back as the lacing began. Not that she was concerned. Her mum, as always, worked slowly and methodically, and the underbust corset was fully broken in and felt lovely against her frame. The light pressure, the familiar feeling of being wrapped in a warm hug, added to Dora's relaxation and pleasant tiredness.

Once finished, Andromeda gently guided her into her bed (which was even softer than her one at home), tucked her in, kissed the top of her head, and began to card her hair.

Dora fell asleep almost immediately, and didn't wake until the next morning.

The next morning passed with a feeling of quiet and relaxation all around. Andromeda didn't even change out of her nightgown or put on a dressing gown before they ate breakfast. Dora, too, remained in her night corset for the morning meal of bacon, eggs, and orange juice.

"When were you planning to return to the beach?" Andromeda asked, once they were finished.

"Water's always chilliest in the morning. Suppose we take a walk together, have lunch, and then take a swim?" Ted suggested.

This met with approval all around, so Dora changed into her day corset (still at nineteen inches, although she suspected she would be a bit smaller any day now) and a pair of her old robes. They'd walk barefoot, and it would do well for her clothes not to drag in the sand.

They walked slowly, taking in the scenery. Her dad put one arm around Dora and the other around his wife for most of the time. Dora breathed in deeply, feeling a sense of overwhelming happiness fill her. She was at her favorite place in the world, she had wonderful parents, she felt so comfortable in a perpetual hug...and she was becoming beautiful. Perhaps the last shouldn't matter to her, but it did, at least a little. And, well, it was hardly wrong to want to be pretty.

After a swim after lunch and another long shower, Dora relaxed in the sitting room, having successfully and comfortably taken herself down to 18 and 3/4. She leaned back on a sofa, reading a book on defensive magic, while her dad rubbed her mum's feet. Andromeda looked positively blissful, and Dora was sure her own expression looked that way when he gave her the same treatment.

After awhile, he stopped, and she kissed him, who wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pausing briefly to encircle her waist with his hands.

"When did you start to learn hexes?" Dora asked after awhile, turning the page.

"Third year," Andromeda recalled, eyes closed. "It didn't go quite as planned."

Ted chuckled. "I remember. It was the first time I noticed something different about you."

"Will you tell me? Or, would you rather wait?" Dora asked.

Andromeda glanced over at her. "Come, I'll rub your feet and tell you."

Dora needed no second invitation.

"Professor Borgadia, who was female, was not from a traditional wizarding family," she began, "so she neither laced down nor knew the magical benefits of it."

"Magical benefits?" Dora echoed.

Andromeda lightly tapped her foot. "Patience, honey."

"I'm sorry."

"That's quite all right. Well, none of us knew, only all of the girls who were Slytherin knew which girls wore corsets, and the same with the Hufflepuff females. There were fewer, about four out of the ten of them. We didn't know, as our robes were loose," she went on, working on the heels of Dora's feet. "We began by practicing a Stunning hex, with our houses put against each other."

"Isn't that a fourth year spell?"

"She liked to challenge us. Pity she died from Dragon Pox at the end of the year," Andromeda added. "Well, we soon noticed that no matter how strong the spell, those who were laced up experienced nothing."

Dora's eyes widened.

"Yes. We could still cast the hex, but it couldn't be used against us," her mum added, now working on her toes. "Our professor was bewildered, because even though she taught us the counter curse, we were only third years."

"Did you realize what it was that made it not work?"

"The Slytherins did. We were all training our waists by then, or nearly. And we were proud, but not to the point of hubris. Still, we couldn't be sure, until it kept happening." She laughed. "It became rather obvious by November."

"Did your professor ever figure it out?" Dora asked.

"We conversed with the Hufflepuff girls. It was rather an awkward conversation, but we concluded rather quickly that those who were corsets, especially those who were training their waists, were protected. Those without were not. So, we told our teacher, and she was rather annoyed. After all, she could hardly tell us to disrobe, and my mother was not the only one who made it impossible. She did discover a spell that undid our unintentional Shield charm, and we used that for the duration of the year."

Dora went quiet for a bit, both savoring the foot massage and digesting what she'd heard.

"Did more want to wear them, afterwards?" she finally asked.

"Not enough, I expect. The protection is fairly limited. In a real duel, it might make a small difference, but it won't save your life," Andromeda explained. "But those small benefits do add up, I expect."

"I expect it worked as well as it did because you were still new at hexes?" Dora guessed.

"Precisely." Andromeda moved back to her daughter's heel. "If you begin with hexes next term, you'll know."

Dora heard her dad shift a bit in his spot, and then felt the weight of a soft, warm blanket over her body.

"Thanks, Daddy," she murmured, sleepily.

She closed her eyes, contentment and warmth flowing through her.

When Dora woke up, she didn't want to move. She felt so warm, so safe, so comfortable that it was like being a small child again. She supposed that thirteen wasn't that old-it would be another four years before she came of age in the eyes of the wizarding world-but she was used to a level of independence that came from being away from home most of the year, and growing older.

"Supposed to get rather chilly tonight," came her dad's voice. "What do you think of a fire?"

"That sounds lovely," her mum agreed. "I hope it doesn't stay cold, though. I know how much you and Dora like to swim."

"I expect it will just be this evening, at least for the next few days. At least, according to the muggle news," he added, with a bit of a laugh.

"I'm glad," she said, softly, and Dora could hear the warmth in her voice.

Dora shifted on the couch easily enough. Even laced down to eighteen and three quarters, and having slept like that, Dora certainly felt at ease. The familiar warm hug flowed through her, and she nestled into the warmth and comfort of her corset.

"Looks like the sleepyhead is up," her dad noted, coming into her range of vision. "Have a good rest?"

Dora nodded, smiling, and sitting up with ease. "Thanks for rubbing my feet, Mum."

Her mum smiled at her and wrapped her arms around her. "You're most welcome, sweetheart."

Dora nestled into her mum's arms, relishing the added warmth, and placed her head against one of the couch cushions.

"I thought we'd have a fire after dinner," Ted said. "Would you like that?"

"It's not too warm for one?"

"Not once it gets a bit darker," Andromeda answered. "Hot chocolate, warm biscuits, and perhaps some ice cream in front of a nice fire. How does that sound?"

"Lovely," Dora and Ted both answered at once.

With only an hour or so before dinner, Dora spent some of the time reviewing her textbooks. She'd finished her summer assignments, but she hadn't done any real studying over the holidays, and she knew that with two extra classes, she could certainly use the time to review. And practice, of course, even if it wasn't technically allowed. Not that anyone except the poor muggle-borns realized that the Ministry law prohibiting magic outside of school couldn't be enforced. Parents, if they wanted, could discipline kids for using magic, but the Ministry had no way of knowing who was using magic in a house with at least one magical parent.

Her dad hadn't known about this until he'd married her mum, and according to the story, had been rightly peeved.

"You mean to tell me all this time that you and your sisters and most of the school were able to do magic while at home, but the Ministry would swoop down on muggle-borns like us?" he'd protested.

"Well, yes," Andromeda had admitted. "Didn't you stay with any of your friends with magical families over the holidays, though? Didn't you see them doing magic?"

But her dad hadn't. Probably, they'd refrained out of kindness to him.

Not that there was much to be done about it now, and Dora's parents certainly didn't want her to lose out on practice or study. One day, they were certain, the rule would be revoked, and any magic done by muggle-borns that resulted in muggles seeing what they shouldn't would just mean more work for the Reversal of Accidental Magic squad, or whatever it was called.

In the meantime, even though she was on holiday, Dora was keen on mastering the Balancing charm (a third year spell, according to her mum), and had set up several books of varying heights with which to practice.

Author's note:

There have been news reports of women's lives being saved because of their corsets, so I thought it would be logical if there was a similar magical benefit. A bit of a Shield charm, as it were.

Next up: More holiday fun at the beach, and Dora rather dreads meeting up with a friend at Diagon Alley.

As always, if you are enjoying this, please leave a review!