The next couple of weeks with Becky flew by. Now only corseted to the extent that she was comfortable, Dora's friend was in high spirits. She was also becoming quite adept at self lacing, although, like Dora, she enjoyed being laced up for the night by her mother.

"She's really good at it, and very gentle," Becky told her one night, after the two had gone to bed. "She doesn't pull too hard or too fast."

"Does your mum?" Dora asked, rather bluntly.

"Sometimes. If she's in a hurry," Becky answered. "She always knows, because I make a little noise, and she's very apologetic. But, well, there are three of us..."

Dora thought her friend's mum could take the time to be extra gentle, even if she had two older siblings to care for, but she had enough sense not to criticize her friend's mother.

"Well, you won't need any help before long," she reassured her. "It took me a week, and you've nearly mastered it in four days."

She saw Becky's face redden at the compliment.

"I hope so."

On Becky's seventh evening at the Tonks house, Andromeda asked Dora to see her privately before they began to prepare for bed. Her mum was smiling, really smiling, so Dora knew she hadn't done anything wrong. Becky, also, was smiling--not unlike her mum.

"Do you know something?" Dora put her hands on her diminished waist. "If you do, you must tell me!"

Becky shrugged, then grinned. "You'll find out in a couple of hours."

They had just finished eating dinner, and it was much too early to go to bed.

Dora gave her friend a mock glare, but Becky's grin just widened.

"Your mum wants you to be surprised," she explained.

Dora sighed dramatically.

Surprises were nice, but Dora was never particularly good at waiting when there was the obscure and elusive promise of one. Well, she didn't have much of a choir. Still, even as they looked over the guidebook for Hogsmeade for the third time since Becky arrived, Dora couldn't muster up the same excitement for Honeydukes, Zonkos, or the thrilling anticipation of visiting the Shrieking Shack.

"The Shrieking Shack?" Ted asked, looking at the book with them. "I don't remember that from my time at school. Do you, Dromeda?"

"I believe it became known as a landmark in our sixth year," she answered, coming to sit on the couch next to Ted. "Same year as the planting of the Whomping Willow, now that I recall."

Andromeda had an excellent memory for these things.

"Didn't a first year nearly lose an eye from that beast?" Ted asked, looking up.

"Nearly, yes. Thankfully, Madam Pomfrey set him right. Although I can't think what was going through the minds of those boys, playing such a foolish game. Even if they were Gryffindors," she added, with a laugh.

"Your cousin was one," Ted reminded her.

Andromeda shuddered. "I know. It still shocks me."

"What happened?" Dora asked, looking up at her parents.

She knew that Sirius Black was in prison, of course, but so was Bellatrix and her husband. Her parents occasionally spoke about Bellatrix, usually her mum, but she knew nothing about Sirius.

"That's a stop for another time," Andromeda answered, with almost uncharacteristic harshness. Then, she took a deep breath and smiled at Dora. "I'm sorry, love. It's just a very sad story, and I don't fancy reliving it tonight."

Dora nodded. "All right."

They continued to examine the guidebook until Dora felt her eyes grow rather heavy. Turning to her mum, she said that she was going to get ready for bed.

"I'd like to see you for a moment, sweetheart," Andromeda said, smiling, and Dora obliged.

Andromeda sent Dora to her room, then disappeared to return a few moments later with two large packages in hand.

"Open this one, first," she instructed, handing Dora the larger one.

Dora wondered briefly if it was a new corset, but the feel of the package didn't seem right for that. Carefully, she undid the wrappings, and then found herself holding one (of several) of the softest nightgowns she'd ever laid hands on. It was possibly softer than her chemise!

"For--for me?" she asked, running her hands along the fabric.

Andromeda beamed. "When I was helping Becky to lace up that first night, I noticed just how soft her nightgown was. I asked her about it the first time I could speak to her without you there." Andromeda laughed. "It was rather difficult, as you do everything together. But I did manage to ask, and she told me. As it turns out, they advertise in the Daily Prophet. So, I ordered a set of seven for you, and another set with flannel on the top for colder weather. Those are the ones at the bottom of the pile. Now, why don't you go ahead and try it on?"

Speechless, Dora simply hugged her mother tightly for several moments. When she let go, her mother turned as Dora disrobed, and then put on the first nightgown.

"Oh, it's lovely!" she murmured.

It was light blue and with just enough embroidery and ribbons to give it a feminine appearance, without seeming overly fancy. Even better, it was quite possibly softer than her chemises, and had extra material so that it spun out a bit as she moved. Dora even squealed a bit as the ample material spun out around her frame.

"Thank you, Mummy. It's wonderful."

Andromeda beamed. "The second package are ankle length chemises. At least, they reach your ankles at the moment. You will likely need new ones in a year or so."

Dora carefully put aside the first package and unwrapped the second. Sure enough, there were seven--each as soft as the chemise she wore, but much longer.

"Oh, thank you!"

Andromeda held her, then placed a kiss on the top of her head. "You're growing up, and you need lovely things. Soon enough, it will be jewelry, but for now, lovely undergarments and nightgowns will do."

"There was never anything wrong with my old ones, but thank you! I expect I will feel like I am sleeping in a cloud tonight," she said, twirling a bit.

Andromeda ran a hand over her hair. "A very soft cloud, indeed."

Dora giggled, and then allowed her mother to lace her up. Laced to nineteen and a half inches, she felt beautiful--along with the delicious warm feeling her corsets provided. She brushed her teeth quickly, then watched as her mother laced Becky into her night corset, feeling sleepier by the moment. Her mum came over to tuck her in and give Dora a good night kiss. Feeling unbelievably comfortable, Dora closed her eyes and fell asleep almost immediately.

The following day, after putting on her new chemise, Dora was elated to find that--at last!--she had reached eighteen inches. Finally, once more she was able to enjoy the feeling of her corset fully closed. Becky looked at Dora with a mix of awe and jealousy.

"You're positively tiny!" she said, walking around Dora to get the full effect. "And I know you can breathe easily, so I won't ask."

Dora, savoring the feel of her new chemise and her closed corset, giggled rather girlishly.

"It's extremely comfortable," she agreed, taking another moment to examine her appearance before choosing a green pair of robes.

"Do you have any particular goal for how small you want to be? My mum would love it if I managed a sixteen inch waist before I finish school," Becky confided.

"I want to become as small as my mum when she married my dad," she confided.

"How small was that?" Becky asked, as she finished lacing herself up.

"Fifteen inches," Dora replied. "She's sixteen, now."

"Is she really? My mum's seventeen and a half, usually, but goes down to seventeen for what she calls 'fancy occasions.' I am sure it's a struggle, but she never looks it," Becky said, with admiration. "But sixteen after having a child! And fifteen before she was married. That's extremely small."

Dora shrugged. "Her older sister was fourteen and her mum was thirteen when she married, but my grandmother was practically tortured by my great grandmother. I reckon if I can get to fifteen, I can eventually wear my mum's old ball robes, and perhaps her wedding ones. Not that I have any boy in mind."

Becky giggled at the last bit. Then, she set about lacing herself up, and measured herself. "Nineteen and a quarter. That's not too bad, really."

"That's great, Becky. You were a quarter inch larger when you arrived, and sleeping too tightly. Your mum will be impressed when she sees you next," Dora enthused, squeezing her friend's hand.

"Well, she's set on me reaching eighteen by the ball," Becky said, slowly, "but she's allowed some extra fabric in my dress robes in case I don't."

Dora thought this was a rather ambitious goal. And it wasn't like it was her mum who had to lose over an inch during that time. Still, perhaps things would change once Becky got home.

"I think you're lovely either way," she said, simply. "Remember what my mum said. Don't rush, don't go too tight, and if you're not enjoying wearing your corset, it's too tight."

"I know." Becky pulled on her blue robes. "I just hope she's thoroughly convinced my mum of it."

Andromeda was very happy for Dora, of course, but cautioned her that further reductions would take a lot more time.

"After you reach eighteen inches, it's usually a year before you can lose each additional inch," she explained. "You can expect to lose about a quarter inch every three or so months. Any more would be highly ambitious."

"Is that how long it took you both times?" Dora asked, feeling a bit deflated.

"Less the first time, but I wasn't in control of my corset then. However, my friends with less ambitious mothers all agreed that it takes a year for each inch to drop," Andromeda explained.

"Then, I will be almost sixteen before my sixteen inch corset closes," she noted.

The idea of going so long without feeling a closed corset around her, at least during the day, was a rather depressing thought.

"Well, yes," Andromeda agreed. "We could have a seventeen inch one made for you, if you prefer."

"No, I would rather wear yours. Besides, a new one takes too long to break in," Dora determined.

"Wish we had spells for that," Becky put in. "Took me a week to get used to my first one."

"It becomes easier over time. Some even enjoy the process," Andromeda said, with a laugh.

Dora could imagine who that person was, and it was the same aunt who still visited her in nightmares.

Becky's departure from the Tonks home made for rather a sobering day. In addition to saying goodbye to her friend for the next ten days, it also meant that the summer holidays would end in ten days.

"At least September first falls on a Friday. You'll have two days off before lessons start," Andromeda reminded Dora, after Becky had left.

"I'd rather have an extra two days at home," Dora complained.

Her mum, rather than chiding Dora, simply pulled her into her arms. Dora knew she was acting more like she had before her first year than she should be before her third. But as much as she liked school, she was acutely aware that she wouldn't see her family for nearly four months. And then, only two weeks. Until then, she would only have owls from them.

Muggle kids got to call their parents on the phone, at least sometimes.

One nice thing would be Hogsmeade, although probably not until October. Another would be the feel of her mother's corsets all day, reminding Dora of her mum's love for her. Even separated by hundreds of miles, Dora could still imagine her mother's arms around her. That would certainly help.

In all likelihood, as Dora knew from previous years, she would only be homesick the first night. Lessons kept her and her classmates busy, and she would spend all her free time with her friends.

Even this year, with the two day gap, Dora would be busy catching up with friends and exploring the castle. They still had secret passageways to find.

All the same, sometimes Dora wished that there were more breaks in the year.

"Come, let's sit down on the couch. If you like, I can rub your feet," Andromeda offered.

"Could you just hold me?" Dora asked, quietly.

"Of course."

They sat down, gracefully, and Dora leaned in close against her mother. As Andromeda's arms wrapped around her frame, Dora began to feel her sadness and irritation drain away. They stayed there for several moments, until Dora broke the silence.

"Did you find it difficult to return to school?"

"In the beginning, yes," Andromeda admitted, hugging Dora a bit more tightly. "Not so much after my third year. I didn't dislike home, mind, but there was more freedom at school. Or so it seemed to me. Then, there was your father."

"Did you love him immediately?"

Andromeda laughed. "After we'd dated for a year. When I decided to let him encircle my waist in his hands, and kiss me, I knew I loved him then."

"And your waist was..."

"Sixteen inches. I had barely reached that measurement before we had been dating for a year," Andromeda answered. She gave Dora another squeeze. "It wasn't just my waist that made him notice me, but it certainly didn't hurt. Not when at least three quarters of my year were training to some extent."

"In your sixth year, then?"

"Fifth," Andromeda corrected, gently. "My birthday was in March. I was barely sixteen, in both ways."

"And studying for OWLs," Dora noted, with a grimace.

"Ah, well, I spent a good deal of the summers before preparing. Made for a much more manageable year than for many others, I expect," Andromeda explained, running a hand through Dora's hair.

"That's what Becky's brother and sister are doing. Mum," Dora added, with some trepidation, "she says she can hardly understand anything they talk about."

"I wouldn't worry. Your marks are excellent, nearly full marks, and with some preparation in the summer, you should have no trouble at all. Even your father managed at least Exceeds Expectations on everything, and it was not until his fifth year that he got around to studying before the night before a test or exam," Andromeda laughed. "If anything, I am afraid you'll overdo it. I see how hard you work, honey."

Dora yawned. "Not at the moment. Will you tell me more about your third year at school?"

Andromeda Summoned a couple of blankets, wrapped them around both of their frames, and began.

Later that week, Andromeda had some more advice for Dora. She was still wearing her eighteen inch corset, reasoning that she'd prefer wearing it closed until it began to feel a bit loose, as opposed to start out with a new one she wouldn't have a chance of closing until she was nearly sixteen.

At the moment, though, Dora was still laced to nineteen and a half, having just eaten breakfast. After waving a wand at the dishes, Andromeda had Dora sit in a chair across from her in the sitting room.

"I have been thinking a great deal about this, and I don't have the perfect words ready, so please bear with me," Andromeda began. At Dora's nod, she continued. "You know my mother was hard on all of us, and her mother made her look nearly like a pushover. They were both pure bloods who had married into the Black family, and wished to be worthy of such an honor. Blacks have relatives in every other bloodline, and while most pure blood families hold to the grandparents principle, the Blacks were relentless in preserving their pure blood status.

"This is not something I believe in, of course, as I didn't marry into a pure blood family. However, I am telling you this to explain their reasoning. To my mother and her mother, Blacks had to be the best. The most beautiful and small-waisted and powerful in magic. To fail to do so was to fail to live up to your potential. I believe that one of the only reasons my mother did not nearly kill me trying to shrink my waist to fourteen inches was because it was already the smallest in my year. And, believe me, she certainly tried to shrink it further." Andromeda's voice took on a strained tone, just then, and her face almost crumpled up. Then, she regained her composure.

"I want you to be happy and comfortable with your appearance beyond anything else, Nymphadora." At Dora's wince at her full name, Andromeda let out a small sigh. "Dora, then." She waited a moment, then continued, "I would hate for you to think that any worth you have or love that your father and I have for you comes, even in the smallest amount, from your ability to train your waist. Nor should you let anyone make you think that. A boy who does not consider you attractive because of your waist, or any of your physical features, ought to be flogged and caned."

"Mum!" Dora burst out, almost shocked by her mother's words.

"Now, honey, I am your mother, and I can be very fierce. I may not be a Gryffindor, but I have some of the protective lioness in me."

Dora smiled, a bit sheepishly. "Thanks."

Her mum took both hands in hers. "I am proud of what you accomplished, very proud. But I don't want you to push yourself beyond your comfort, much less to the point of hurting yourself. Not for a ball, and certainly not when you marry. If you ever feel like lacing loosely for a day, or longer, do so. If you would rather sleep unlaced, by all means, you should. You're on a journey, honey, and you should enjoy the entire process without simply trying to get to the next point. Do you understand?"

Dora did, and it was almost a relief. Certainly, she always (or nearly always) felt comfortable, but there was the beginning of a fear that she wouldn't be. That, as she became smaller, it might become more difficult to breathe, might even hurt, no matter how slowly she took it.

She nodded. "Yes, Mum, I understand. And...thank you," she added, quietly.

Her mother smiled fondly at her. "You're welcome, honey."

"Can I ask you a question?" At Amdromeda's nod, Dora continued, "Did you ever take days off? After you married Dad?"

Andromeda grinned. "For our first week of marriage, I loosened my corset to seventeen inches during the day and didn't wear one at night. Just because I could. But, after that, I found that I missed wearing my day one at fifteen inches. Seventeen felt almost uncomfortably loose during the day. Besides m, and I was really quite comfortable at fifteen inches, so I went back to that measurement. Now, sleeping at sixteen always felt too tight, so I began to sleep at seventeen, and I could hardly believe how much better I felt when I rose. I did take a night off entirely each week in the beginning, but stopped." Andromeda smiled fondly at Dora, and then drew her into her arms. "All of the females in my family laced, and with just as much tightness, when they carried their children. My mother miscarried twice, and her mother five times. I decided not to lace at all when I learned that I was expecting you, because I didn't trust myself to know the difference between lacing for support and reduction. I don't regret it."

"If I ever have kids, do you think I shouldn't wear a corset?"

Andromeda considered. "Pregnancy can be extremely painful on your back, and there are ones that can offer support. When that time comes, you can decide."

"Probably not for at least ten years!" Dora laughed.

"Well," Andromeda said, running a hand through Dora's hair, while holding her close to her with the other, "certainly not for five."

When Ted came by a few minutes later, Dora was half asleep in her mother's arms. Carefully, he helped her so that she was laying on her mother's lap, and then gently rubbed her feet until she was fast asleep.

Author's note:

I hope that Andromeda's advice to Dora provides appropriate rationale as to why she 1) continues to wear corsets after her marriage, 2) why she would train her waist again after her pregnancy, and 3) why she generally feels positive about wearing them. Simply put: she (and Dora) find them to be comfortable and enhance her appearance. Andromeda certainly suffered during her waist training experience as a teenager, and had little say in how tight she was laced or the pace she can go at. At the same time, she loved the result, and the freedom to go at her own pace after marriage made her happy with both life choices.

She is a good mother, and doesn't want to make the same choices her own mother did. Andromeda also worries, at least a little, that her daughter will put pressure on herself. So, her advice to enjoy the process and go easy on yourself is valid in this story as well as in the corsetting communities.

Next up: Time to go back to school!