Andromeda hadn't expected such a transformation when she saw her daughter at the train station. While Dora's face reflected the tiredness of a young girl who had stayed up late after her first dance-an experience she recalled all too well-she also saw happiness and confidence that hadn't quite seen before. Or not to that extent. She'd known at the start of Dora's summer holidays that her little girl was becoming a young woman, and certainly Dora had not completed the transformation within a handful of months, but she could hardly deny the progress.
And while Dora had never slacked in her studies, Andromeda noticed she had never been more diligent. From the first day, Dora had immersed herself in her studies, no doubt determined to finish her homework before she could devote her time to enjoying herself.
Andromeda, always a diligent student, highly approved.
"Our little girl is growing up," Ted had murmured, at the end of the first day.
Andromeda had nodded. "I've noticed. It's impossible not to, now."
"I know we can't keep her as a child forever, but I rather wish we'd had a country more years," Ted said, with a light laugh.
"Oh, she'll need us for at least a few more years," Andromeda reassured her husband. "I'm just relieved she hasn't become a moody teenager."
All of the Black daughters had gone through that stage. Too-tight corsets hadn't helped the process. When you knew you wouldn't be able to breathe easily from the moment you rose until the moment you went back to bed, and were assaulted with the pressure to marry well and quickly while becoming perfect in magic...
Yes, the pressure would cause those who hadn't been trained in Black levels of decorum to break down.
To Druella's credit, she would occasionally allow the loosening of corsets when the stress became unbearable for her older daughters.
Well. Slightly loosen. And briefly.
Now, Ted laughed. "She's not even fourteen. I reckon there's plenty of time for that."
Andromeda chuckled. Yes, this was certainly true.
"Her first dance," she murmured. "There's going to be pictures, too. I can't wait to see them, and hear all about it."
"In good time, Dromeda," her husband reminded her. "You know how Dora is with her studies. After a few days of working like a house elf, she'll relax enough to engage with us and enjoy her holidays."
Andromeda knew this. She also knew the importance of study breaks, and reminded her husband as much.
"You're right. We'll encourage her to take her nose out of her books and enjoy the beach," Ted promised. "If only for an hour or so in the beginning."
"Yes," she agreed, "and it's a good thing that the holidays are a bit longer than two weeks this time around."
Ted nodded, then beckoned to her, and of course, she obliged with a grin.
A few nights later, after a very relaxing day for herself and Dora, Andromeda dreamed of her childhood. Except, this time, it came as memories from her second day of training her waist.
To say she hadn't slept well during her first night of being corseted would have been an understatement. After being unable to fall asleep for what had felt like hours, she had finally dropped off only to be awakened with the sensation of being unable to breathe. Bella hadn't been able to loosen or remove her tight corset (although it was still an inch looser than the four inch reduction the day before!), and could only soothe her. This had helped her calm down enough to fall asleep again.
Bella roused her the next morning, and Andromeda felt as though she wouldn't make it out of her bed.
Only in part because she wasn't used to navigating the sitting up process in her corset. After a false start, Bella gently pulled her upright.
"However do you manage?" Andromeda asked, yawning.
"Practice. I am a few years ahead of you in that department. Come, it's time to wake Cissy," her older sister answered, promptly. "Dress and brush your hair. It looks dreadful."
"I can hardly imagine why," Andromeda muttered.
But upon seeing her reflection, she was jerked fully awake. Merlin, she looked dreadful. Her face was ghastly pale, almost as much as the ghosts at school, and her hair was a mess. She lifted her comb and began to sort through the tangles, grateful that her corset, unlike her mother's before her marriage to their father, didn't contain restrictive shoulder straps that would hinder her upper mobility.
Ten minutes later, her face was still deathly pale, but her hair looked presentable. She was about to pull on a pair of robes when one of the house elves appeared.
"Tally, you weren't called," Bella reprimanded, from her spot on the bed, brushing Narcissa's lovely hair.
The younger elf curtsied. "Begging your pardon, Miss Bella! The mistress had me come in to unlock Miss Andromeda's corset. Miss Bella is to lace her to twenty inches."
Twenty inches again! Andromeda felt as though her laces had already been pulled.
Her sister, while casting her a sympathetic glance, simply nodded at the elf.
Tally muttered something under her breath, and the laces unlocked. Andromeda resisted the urge, when Bella undid the knot she'd made the night before, to try to fight her sister and remove her corset completely.
But she knew better. She didn't even want to think about what sort of punishment that would merit...
To Andromeda's relief, though, once Bella had pulled her poor waist back to twenty inches, it didn't feel half as bad as the day before. Certainly, she could not take deep breaths without great effort, and she knew she would have to confine herself to short sentences for the same reason. Still, she didn't feel almost dizzy, and really, the grip around her frame was not entirely unpleasant.
If only she weren't so tired. Andromeda gazed longingly at the bed before resuming her dressing.
Once they were downstairs, a far less Herculean effort than the trip upstairs had been the night before, Andromeda's mother greeted her with a rare hug and look of motherly concern.
"Ah, Andromeda. How did you manage last night? I know all too well it can be difficult in the beginning, my dear," Druella asked, gently.
Andromeda took a moment to ponder her words, and in that time, Bella had answered for her.
"She did wake up during the night, Mother, but she fell asleep again, and is still with us," her sister said, putting a reassuring arm around Andromeda's shoulders.
Andromeda nodded her agreement, which took no extra breath from her strained lungs, and Druella seemed satisfied.
Breakfast was more difficult than dinner, and Andromeda would have been content to leave most of the food on her plate. She certainly felt full after a few bites. But when she tentatively put down her utensils, her mother shook her head.
"No, dear. You must eat at least half. If you don't, you will lose weight, and your breasts will not grow as they should," she said, in a tone that the younger Blacks knew gave no room for argument or disobedience.
So, Andromeda managed a nod, adding, "Yes, Mother," and went about the arduous process of eating her food.
She certainly felt more than full after eating the required amount, but mentally reasoned that her mother would not do anything to make her ill. Besides, Bella had been through all of this, and she had survived.
Andromeda also felt a bit more awake after her breakfast, enough to pay attention to her mother's lessons-which were really lectures interspersed with questions to her daughters-about etiquette and pure blood family history. Today, they were reviewing their connections with the Rosier family, to which Druella had belonged to before marrying their father.
The Rosiers were a decent, pure blood family, but a notch below the Black family. More than once, Druella attributed her beauty, social graces, and thirteen inch waist with her success with marrying Cygnus Black. Andromeda could see that, while her parents loved each other very much, her mother made most of the decisions. Including not having children after the birth of Narcissa, if what Bellatrix had heard upon listening in on their parents could be believed.
All families wanted a male heir, and preferably a second one in case anything happened to the first. The existence of three daughters and no sons had to have been distressing for her mother after their births, as well as at least as many miscarriages in between their births, but at least her sister in law had two sons who would carry on the family name. Besides, Andromeda reasoned, three daughters would go a long way in marrying off good (if not Black) men, and perpetuate the pure blood family lines.
Around mid-morning, though, the exhaustion combined with a still full stomach felt like too much to bear. She managed as best as she could, and after her mother allowed for a break, during which Cissy could play outside, she pulled Andromeda and Bella aside.
"You look rather dreadful, dear," she said, placing her hands on Andromeda's shoulders.
"I'm very sorry, Mother," she answered, and meant it.
Druella studied Andromeda again, then summoned Tally.
"Bring out the green couch and two blankets. Three pillows, as well," she commanded. Then, she unlocked Andromeda's corset. "Bella, loosen your sister to twenty-one...no, twenty-one and a half inches." As Bella removed her robes and began to undo the knot to her corset laces, Druella spoke again. "Andromeda, you may rest for a few hours. Merlin knows you need it," she added, with a concerned frown.
A moment later, Andromeda her corset loosen until it felt more than bearable. Indeed, it was downright comfortable, and she could even breathe deeply without effort.
"Thank you, Mother!" Andromeda answered, with more emotion than was proper.
But Druella simply gave her another hug. "Well. Perhaps, four inches on the first day, and sleeping at three, was ambitious on my end. Now, dear girl, you must have a good, long rest and allow yourself to regain your breath and your energy."
A moment later, after Tally arranged the pillows and blankets to Druella's precise instructions, Andromeda carefully made her way onto the couch. Once laying down, surrounded by pillows and soft blankets, she couldn't restrain a contented sigh. Yes, she was truly comfortable. Her corset felt like a good, warm hug once more, not like a vice grip on her frame.
Then, with the additional comfort of the green couch, the softest one the Black family owned, and with the width of her bed upstairs, she felt as though she was laying on a cloud. Her mother herself rearranged the pillows to be in the perfect position to support her head and back. Druella even tucked the blankets around Andromeda, something she had not done since Andromeda had been a child, and Andromeda felt herself fall into a sound sleep almost immediately.
Andromeda wasn't sure how long she slept, only that she felt much, much better when she woke up. The fullness in her stomach was gone (although she did rather need to use the loo...), and so was the near exhaustion. In fact, she felt rather as she had after waking up most mornings...with the exception of a feeling as though she were wearing a comfortable hug around her chest and ending at her hips. Andromeda tentatively took as deep a breath as she could, then smiled. She could breathe, if perhaps not as easily as before the previous day before being laced up for the first time, certainly without any discomfort. She opened her eyes, letting herself relax for a few moments, and then carefully pushed herself up into a sitting position.
Her mother, who had been instructing Cissy on how to walk properly with a book on her head, while Bella worked on an essay for school, immediately noticed Andromeda, and smiled. She rose gracefully from her chair, and walked over to her middle daughter.
"Ah, you're awake, my dear. Do you feel better?" she asked, giving her another rare hug.
"Much better, Mother. Thank you for allowing me to rest," she answered, meaning it.
Druella laughed. "Well, I won't have it said that I torture my daughters! Certainly, small waists are essential, but as I said, I may have proceeded a bit more quickly than I ought to. Now, if you can manage it, I would like to have Bella take you down to twenty again. You may sleep at twenty-one and a half this evening, if you do everything I say for the rest of the day."
"I promise," Andromeda pledged. "Only," she added, blushing, "I er, rather need to use the..."
She trailed off, and her mother laughed again. "Of course! You know where it is, I presume," she added, in a rather uncharacteristic teasing manner.
Andromeda laughed, and thanked her again.
After her return from the loo, Druella instructed Bella to tighten her corset back to twenty inches. Andromeda steeled herself, and it was hardly as comfortable as twenty-one and a half inches, but it was still bearable. Trying, perhaps, but bearable.
The rest of the day was far easier than the last one, or even the first hours of the current one. Besides, Andromeda was very motivated to perform well by the promise of being allowed to sleep a full inch and a half looser that night.
Best of all, that evening, Druella allowed Andromeda to be unlaced from her corset to bathe. Once it was removed from her body, it was all Andromeda could manage not to sigh with relief. To breathe deeply! To be able to slouch! Of course, she refrained from doing the second in the eyes of her mother. Instead, she removed her chemise, and entered the large tub that the elf had already filled with hot, soapy water. On the side, of course, was a leveled off area, propped up by soft spongy cushions, for Andromeda (or her sisters) to rest her head while the house elf would wash her hair. Then, she allowed herself a sigh of pleasure.
Druella gave her an understanding smile. "You have done well today, dear, and may rest for a bit." To the elf standing by the tub, she continued, "Tally, you are to wash and massage Andromeda's hair for at least twenty minutes before rinsing it out. Then, apply the conditioning treatment, and comb it through her hair twice."
Twenty minutes! It took all of Andromeda's good breeding not to squeal at the anticipation of such a relaxing treatment. Normally, the elf's massages were only half as long. Why, she might be asleep before the elf was finished!
"Yes, ma'am!" the elf answered, with cheer.
"Afterwords, allow Miss Andromeda to remain resting in the bathtub for at least a half an hour. Be sure to keep the water warm," her mother added. "Andromeda, dear, Bellatrix will lace you in a night corset to twenty-one and a half inches to sleep. You have done very well today, my dear, and I hope you will sleep better tonight."
"Thank you, Mother," she answered, and smiled.
Druella gave Andromeda another smile, then left the room.
Once Andromeda had immersed her entire body into the tub, Tally scrubbed her hair with her usual care. Andromeda sighed deeply as she savored the feel of the elf's small hands deeply kneading her scalp. She felt utterly relaxed, and content. Between the exceptionally long and thorough scalp massage, and the freedom of breathing completely freely, Andromeda nearly fell asleep. While still in this relaxed state, the elf liberally applied the wizarding conditioning products to soften it and remove the tangles. Andromeda left the tub feeling nearly boneless, and was compliant when Bella, under the supervision of their mother who had returned to supervise, laced her new sleeping corset (which was stiffer than her day one, but also lighter against her body) to the promised twenty-one and a half inches.
If only she were allowed to be at this measurement during the day. Andromeda was perfectly comfortable in this measurement, as it felt like a good hug without robbing her of a good deal of her breath.
It was much easier to fall asleep that night, but Andromeda still woke up suddenly with the feeling of being unable to breathe. Once again, Bella held and spoke to her until she had her breath back, and she fell asleep this time with more ease.
She rose the next day feeling, if not like she had received a normal night's sleep, at least as though she was not in danger of falling asleep at the breakfast table.
All the same, Druella kindly allowed Andromeda the same loosening of her laces and another long nap in the middle of the morning.
By the following day, Andromeda was sleeping normally, although her mother still allowed her a long map after their morning lessons. Andromeda, truth be told, was just as grateful for the extra inch and a half of breathing room as the ability to sleep. Twenty inches was feeling more bearable each day, but twenty-one and a half was outright comfortable and even comforting-a warm hug around her frame that in no way restricted her breathing.
After six days, however, her mother thought it appropriate to have her sleeping corset tightened to only an inch looser than her day one. Andromeda rather missed the extra breathing room, but she understood her mother's reasoning. The extra half an inch would make it easier to adjust to the tightness of her day corset, which would allow her to become smaller at a faster speed. She knew without being told that a twenty inch waist was not acceptable even in the most casual social settings, and Andromeda would be joining the social events for girls her age before long.
Besides, sleeping an inch looser than her day corset, especially in a lighter corset, was hardly uncomfortable, and she was sleeping soundly throughout the night.
She was pleased when Druella informed her that the hour long baths and extra long scalp massages would continue for the duration of time she was at home. Whether this was because Druella viewed it as a well deserved treat, or because this was meant to promote Andromeda's hair growth, Andromeda did not know. She simply relished the treatments each night. No doubt they, along with only being laced to twenty-one inches in her night corset, aided her considerably in her newfound ability to sleep soundly.
A week after Andromeda had begun lacing, she was entirely at ease at twenty inches. Druella, seeing this without being told, decided to try Andromeda in the eighteen inch corset.
"Bella, lace her first to twenty inches, and after her breathing settles, take her in an extra inch," Druella commanded.
The stiff corset made the reduction to twenty inches more uncomfortable than Dora would have liked, and she steeled herself as Bella applied her strength to take her in the extra inch.
The corset tightened in a grip around her frame it hadn't before. It robbed her breath entirely, Andromeda began gasping, desperate to fill her lungs. Spots appeared in front of her eyes, and even as she blinked, they remained in front of her. She could not breathe...she could not breathe...
Her mother noticed, and frowned. "Too much, I see." She placed a hand on Andromeda's shoulders. "Shh, it's all right. Bellatrix, loosen her a half an inch."
Bellatrix complied, of course, and Andromeda immediately felt the air return to her lungs. It was still far from comfortable, and it was at least a minute before her breath returned, but she was no longer in danger of fainting. A tear fell down her face.
Relief, no doubt.
Druella looked sympathetic. "Slow breaths, dearest. Like this."
She took in a breath, and Andromeda tried her best to copy her movements. Immediately, she found it easier to breathe.
Her mother nodded. "Your color is returning. Can you manage?"
"I-I believe so," Andromeda managed, relieved that those few words did not rob her of her breath. "Yes, Mother."
"Good. Very good. You will remain at this measurement for a week, and sleep an inch looser than this for that duration," Druella told her.
Andromeda nodded, still focusing on keeping her breathing steady. After a moment, she risked speaking again. "Mother?"
"Yes, my dear?" she asked, speaking gently.
"Why...couldn't I manage a full inch?"
Her mother took her hands in hers, and sighed. "I am afraid that, in spite of all the spells our kind have created, we must still waist train the way muggles do. Our results greatly surpass theirs, as our kid can achieve thirteen and fourteen inches in far larger numbers. However, to achieve them, we must go slowly."
"Soon enough, you'll be grateful to diminish by a quarter inch," Bells put in, with a sigh.
"Indeed." Druella put her arms around Andromeda's shoulders. "I know it's trying now, dear. Going to a small measurement always is a challenge. Before long, you will be at ease, just as you were at twenty inches, and then we can bring your waist in further." She gave Andromeda an encouraging smile. "For now, you will learn to manage with grace at nineteen and a half."
Andromeda knew that it had taken her sister years to go from twenty-three inches to her current fourteen and a half, but she hadn't paid attention to the exact figures along the way. Now, she worried. With the extra inch that her sister didn't have, Andromeda feared that the time it would take to bring her waist to thirteen or fourteen inches would mean that she would likely be even older than Bella when she finished.
And, by then, her marriage prospects might diminish at a faster rate than her waist ever would.
She tried not to worry about this. Andromeda was getting smaller, and her mother knew all too well the importance of a small waist, as well as what it would take to secure a good husband. How else would she have managed to marry into the Black family? The family with the purest blood of all wizarding families?
It was her duty to preserve the family honor, even if she would take on their husband's last names. (Marriage between cousins was permitted, and she did love her cousins in a familial sense...but Sirius was five years her junior, and Regalus seven. Such a distinction, when the female was older, could not be easily overlooked.) And this meant a thirteen or fourteen inch waist, flawless beauty besides, an exceptional understanding of magic, and deportment that demonstrated their flawless blood and breeding.
It might be difficult to live up to such expectations, but Andromeda was on her way to fulfilling them with every half inch lost along her waistline.
Author's note:
In addition to wanting to add more memories from Andromeda's childhood, I wanted to show her mother in a more sympathetic and balanced light than I had in my first chapter in which Andromeda began to train her waist.
I try to show her mother as trying to be a good mother, certainly a better one than her own, while working in the parameters of what constitutes training a pure blood daughter for pure blood society. While waist training to a measurement of eighteen inches is expected for good girls in such a society in Dora's generation, sixteen and smaller is the expectation in her mother's. And for a daughter of parents in the Sacred Twenty Eight? Fourteen, perhaps fifteen at most.
Depending on body type, this can range from not at all difficult (as long as you're persistent) to life threatening. Starting waist sizes and body types certainly were not a constant, and girls like Bellatrix and Druella had an advantage over Andromeda.
All the same, Druella does not wish to be cruel. Yes, she pushes her daughters, because she believes that it's necessary in order to be a good mother, but she is not sadistic. She strives for a balance between excellent results and a bearable experience. Moreover, she likely recalls her own near traumatic waist training experience, and feels sympathy when her daughters' corsets "must" (in her mind) be tightened to the point of her daughters feeling discomfort. But, better some discomfort today than a bad marriage from a large waist later.
The next chapter will also be from Andromeda's POV.
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