"Oh, I've missed you!" Andromeda murmured, as she took Dora into her arms. "Did you have a good term? Have you said goodbye to your friends?"

"Yes, and yes," Dora answered, smiling as she happily returned her mum's fierce hug. "I have so much to tell you!"

Letters were fine: she'd enjoyed writing them, and always looked forward to receiving them, but they were nothing compared to being with her parents.

"We have a surprise for you," her dad told her, after taking his turn in giving her a bear hug. "I had hoped to tell you in a letter, but your mum saw me writing, and threatened to hex my hand off if I sent it."

"Mum!" Dora giggled. "You wouldn't!"

Her mom rolled her eyes. "Perhaps. I'd have put it back on, though," she answered, playfully. To Dora, she asked, "Come, are you ready to find out the surprise?"

Dora nodded, and accepted her mother's hand.

They disappeared from the muggle train station...and when they appeared again, it was in front of their summer cottage at the beach.

"Really?" Dora squealed. "We'll stay here for part of the holidays?"

"Really," Andromeda assured her, smiling at her enthusiasm. "For the entire two and a half weeks. I made a special request of Father Christmas to send all of your presents here."

Dora laughed. "Oh, thank you, Mummy!"

"We've been here the past few days getting everything ready," Ted put in, wrapping an arm around Dora's shoulders. She leaned in happily. "It's rather colder than we'd expected it to be, but your mum does wonders with Heating charms. And, of course, we had to bring supplies from home. But it was all worth it."

"It certainly was," Andromeda agreed, smiling at Dora and then at her husband, who were immersed in the scenery. "Come, there will be plenty of time for that soon enough," she coaxed them. "I don't suppose you've eaten a good meal since breakfast, have you?" As Dora shook her head, Andromeda nodded. "And there's your things to be put away."

Dora nodded, as did her father, as they entered the house with only a bit of reluctance.

The rest of the day passed quickly, but in a relaxing manner. After Dora unpacked her clothes and her school books she'd need for the upcoming two weeks, assisted by her mum, they ate a late lunch/early dinner in front of the fireplace in the sitting room. Normally, they weren't so casual, but as her mum said, it was the beginning of the holiday. As they ate, they asked questions about Dora's term, and how she found her first trip to Hogsmeade.

"Oh, it was brilliant!" she gushed, after swallowing a mouthful of food. "Honeydukes was even better than I could have hoped for. There were so many different sweets to choose from. And there were so many other shops to visit. In fact," she added, with a grin, "Madam Barnatte even had a shop!"

"I'm not surprised," her mum said, with a light laugh. "Girls' measurements can change rapidly, especially in the early months, and a good corsetiere always sees her client in person."

"Sarah and Elizabeth, the two muggle borns who had begun to lace, were very excited. Only, she couldn't sell them anything without their parents' permission, but Madam did agree to take their measurements. She said that the ones they were wearing worked well enough for the time being," Dora summarized. "If they can get their parents to agree, she can fit them for properly fitted ones on the next trip. Although, I'm not sure when that will be."

"As I recall, they usually post a notice for Hogsmeade trips a few weeks before the date," Dora's dad put in. "Usually two trips during the fall term, and one or two in the spring."

"We only had one last term," Dora said, with a bit of a sigh. "I hope there will be two in the spring. Well," she added, after some consideration, "I reckon I'd fancy the second one to be after exams finish up. I wouldn't fancy having to waste a full day at Hogsmeade when I could be studying."

"Spoken like a true Hufflepuff," Andromeda murmured, approvingly, as she held Dora closer.

Dora, of course, happily nestled into her mum's arms.

"Hey!" Ted jokingly protested.

"Dad, you did say that you usually waited until the last minute to begin studying for exams," Dora reminded him, with a grin.

Ted put his hand to his heart in mock pain. "Oh! Both of you have injured me!"

Then, they all laughed.

"I've love to know about the dance, honey, if you'd like to tell us," Andromeda added, in a rather coaxing tone.

Not that Dora needed it.

"Oh, it was lovely! I had such a good time, and the decorations and food were incredible. I felt so pretty, Mum, and I didn't stamp on anyone's feet," she added, with a smile. "Professor Sprout took photos of us before the dance started, and promised to send them to our homes. I hope mine turned out all right."

"I'm sure you were lovely," Andromeda reassured her.

"You were probably the prettiest one there," Ted added, with pride.

"I doubt I was the prettiest," Dora contradicted, "but I felt...I reckoned I looked a bit like you, Mum." She shrugged. "Maybe."

Andromeda beamed. "I don't doubt it. You do have some of my features, and I expect that with your dress robes, you looked a few years older. I'm sure you were lovely, dear. I look forward to seeing the photographs."

Dora smiled contentedly as she snuggled next to her mum. She felt herself doze off for a bit, and then found herself being guided upstairs.

"Fancy a hot bath before bed?" Andromeda asked, with an arm around her.

Dora shook her head. "I barely have the energy to undress."

"It has been a long day," her mum murmured. "Shall I help you into your night corset?"

"Please." Dora remembered something, now feeling rather more awake. "Mum, I, er, have been using the overbusts for sleeping."

"I'm not surprised," Andromeda answered, as she placed Dora's robe in a laundry basket. "They provide extra warmth in this cold weather."

Dora felt relieved that her mum wasn't disappointed, and easily unlaced herself. After exchanging her chemise for a nightgown, and a quick trip to the bathroom to brush her teeth, she retrieved one of her eighteen inch corsets to give to her mum.

"Can you lace me to nineteen?" she asked, with a yawn.

"Of course, love."

Dora savored the familiar feeling of her mum gently taking in her waist, the warm hug the corset provided. Entirely comfortable and very tired, Dora let her mum pull back the covers and tuck her in.

"Would you mind staying with me for a bit?" Dora murmured, turning on her side so she was looking at her mother.

"Of course I don't mind, honey," Andromeda answered.

Her mother took a seat next to her, and began to card Dora's hair. Dora sighed happily, closed her eyes, and slowly drifted off into a sound and easy sleep.

The following morning, Dora woke up feeling so comfortable that she almost wanted to spend all day in bed. Laced to nineteen inches in her night corset (her day corset measured just a bit under seventeen and three eighths) which her mum had placed a powerful Warming charm on the night before, the upper part of her body felt as though it was wrapped in a very, very warm hug. That, in and of itself, was extremely pleasant, and she allowed herself to relish in that feeling for several moments.

Not that this was the sole cause for Dora's sleepy and happy state of mind. She took a moment to relish the feel of the three very soft pillows were on her bed-or rather, two behind her bed, and one under her waist, as a cushion between her back and the bed. As she became smaller, her mother had warned that this might be necessary, and as always when it came to corsetry, her mother had been right. Dora had always been a side-sleeper, and the pillow gave her sides the cushioning necessary so that she didn't feel the large indentation along her diminishing waist. All three pillows, of course, had Warming charms placed upon them.

Finally, she had slept under sheets that felt like linen to her skin-not that she could feel much of it against her body, being in a long nightgown, but it was very pleasant against her arms, her feet, and her face-and over the sheets were three incredibly soft blankets that had been charmed to keep her warm throughout the night.

These charms, while very pleasant, had also been entirely necessary, as the three of them had learned upon their entrance to the family beach house. The wizarding world used Warming charms in the cooler months to heat their homes, and Cooling charms in the warmer months to keep them at a reasonable temperature. There were also fireplaces, of course, but they were far less useful than the charms. However, certain climates and certain building materials did not retain heat as well as others, and in spite of her parents' best efforts, the hallways were rather drafty, and the drafts could creep into the main rooms. A house-elf might focus a part of his or her energy into keeping their house warm for their masters, but they had none, so they simply bundled up and used Heating charms on their clothes-and their blankets.

It was, in part, with this in mind that Dora was not terribly anxious to leave her very warm bed and make the trip downstairs. However, even while on the first day of her holidays, she did not wish to spend the entire day in bed. Besides, she was hungry, and looking forward to getting dressed, not to mention enjoying the beach during the cooler months. Just because she and her dad couldn't swim in the water didn't mean they couldn't walk on the beach and admire the ocean.

Still, Dora thought with a sigh, it was rather tempting to remain there for another hour or so.

Almost immediate, delicious smells of her mother's cooking breakfast wafted into her room. She was certain that she could smell bacon, eggs, and even pancakes. The latter of which would be difficult to eat slowly, as they tasted nearly as good as cake, but she would endeavor to do so.

"Oh, all right," she half grumbled, half smiled to herself.

She pushed aside the covers and felt a slight chill before she was able to don her dressing gown which, thankfully, contained a Heating charm. It was not as warm as the three blankets she slept under, but it certainly kept her from shivering. Placing her feet into similarly warmed slippers, Dora opened the door to her room and braced herself against the chill. Fortunately, relatively bundled up as she was, it didn't have the same impact as the previously night. Or, perhaps, it was fiercer after dark.

"Good morning!" she greeted, once she reached the warmth of the kitchen.

Ted greeted her with a joyful "Good morning!" and a bear hug that warmed her even more thoroughly. Her mum, who was placing the food on plates when she saw her, quickly took them to the table before wrapping Dora in a hug that was almost as warm as her dad's.

"Good morning, honey," she murmured, not letting go until Dora did. "Sleep well?"

She grinned. "Extremely well. Almost wanted to lay in bed all day."

Her dad laughed. "Your mum's Heating charms would make a cold mountain into a lovely place to sleep."

"I can't work miracles, Ted," her mum answered, with a light laugh as she held Dora close to her. "The mountain would need far more than a Heating charm."

Dora, grinning at their banter, sat down, slowly and gracefully, as was her nature while corseted. Unfortunately, that was about the extent of her grace. She nearly poked herself in the eye as she put her hands on the table a bit too quickly, resulting in her fork bouncing up with far too much force, and striking her lightly on the forehead.

"Er, oops," she said, feeling her face warm.

Her mother checked to see there was no mark or blood, and then raised her eyebrows. "Really, honey. How did you manage that?"

"Skill," she answered, which got a few chuckles.

"Evidently!" her mum laughed. "Well, try not to injure yourself while you eat."

"I'll try," Dora promised, grinning, as she began to (slowly) eat the plate of food that was before her.

Laced only to nineteen inches, she could probably fit more food into her stomach than she was used to. But that would make it harder to lace down, possibly cause a mild stomachache later on, and in spite of the delicious food, it ultimately wasn't worth the probable end result. So, Dora ate slowly, trying to savor everything, and satisfied herself with simply clearing her plate and not asking for seconds.

Andromeda did the same, but Ted had a large second helping without having to worry about it coming back to haunt him.

Corseting was a wonderful thing, both the feel of wearing one and how you looked in one, but the same garment that hugged your body and made you smaller could be rather...unrelenting...when you tried to put too much food inside your reduced waist.

Well, as her mum said, you can't have everything you wish for in this life.

Dora was pretty sure she was happier, and more fortunate, than most.

"What do you fancy doing this morning?" Andromeda asked them, once they plates were cleared away.

Dora sighed a bit. She had a lot of holiday assignments to do, although not as many as she'd had during the Easter holidays over the past two years. She knew she ought to start them immediately.

"Well, the teachers set us with loads of homework," she began, with a light sigh, "and I expect I ought to start on Snape's dreadful essay for Potions, as that's the worst of it."

Andromeda and Ted gave her sympathetic smiles.

"Best to begin with the worst of it immediately," her dad said. "But I was thinking of going for a walk after lunch. It's not terribly chilly if you have a warm cloak on. Your mum and I spent a good part of yesterday morning exploring the beach, and it's another world entirely during the winter. We'd love to go again, and have you join us. Think you could manage that today, hon?" After a pause for breath, he added, "It's not healthy to work all the time, you know."

Dora grinned. "Sure. I'll take a break after lunch."

"That's my good girl." Ted kissed the top of her head.

After a quick shower, Dora put on her chemise and her day corset. She laced until she felt a good, firm hug around her frame, and when she measured her waist, was pleased to see she was nearly at seventeen and a quarter inches. She immediately charmed both garments with a Warming charm, and let out a contented sigh as the warmth settled around her. Dora did the same with a pair of casual navy robes, and then her socks. This pleasant task completed, she resolutely went to her trunk and began to take out her books. Parchment and books in hand, she left her room to sit in front of the fire in the sitting room. That room also had particularly good lighting, and a nice high backed chair, which made it easier to focus. Dora allowed herself to enjoy feeling comfortable and toasty before getting to work.

By the time she had finished the paper, her stomach was growling. Dora heard her mum's gentle laugh, and looked up to see that both parents had joined her in the sitting room. Also, her hands, while not exactly covered in ink, were considerably darker than when she had started.

Her mum walked over to her, wand in hand. "May I?" she asked, nodding at Dora's hands.

"Please."

"Scourgify," Andromeda said softly, pointing her wand at Dora's hands.

The ink stains disappeared, and she smelled the scent of lilacs her mum's cleaning spell always left behind.

"Thanks."

Andromeda kissed her on top of her head. "Nearly finished? Or, would you like to take a break for lunch?"

"I'm finished, and definitely ready for lunch," she agreed.

"Wonderful."

Dora and Ted rose from their seats, and Dora felt her mum's arms around her shoulders as they walked the short distance to the kitchen. One thing Dora was glad of-among many things, but this in particular-was that their meals were always rather casual. They only used a dining room for entertaining during holidays, and they never changed their clothes for dinner. Sure, the Tonks family never ate their meals lounging on the couches, but they also weren't as terribly formal as other wizarding families Dora knew.

The image of her cousin came to mind, Draco Malfoy. Technically, both of Andromeda's sisters had ended contact with her after the marriage with Ted. After the downfall of You-Know-Who, Narcissa Malfoy had begun to reach out, sending a few letters via owl (likely not the family owl, Andromeda had guessed) over the years. A recent one came just a few months back, and included a family portrait by way of photograph. Draco, the cousin who she'd likely never meet because she had been seven before he was born, sat more stiffly and formally than she would have thought possible for any five or six year old. Yet...they seemed happy enough in the picture. Andromeda suspected that the Malfoy family was trying to toe the line of respectability in both worlds, just in case You-Know-Who really did return-or didn't.

Also, whatever some tapestry might say, Andromeda was still Narcissa's older sister, and the only one not in Azkaban.

Dora ate slowly, in spite of her still growling stomach, and soon the protestations ceased. She listened as her parents talked about their few days here before Dora had arrived. While they had needed to perform a few Cleaning charms on the house, the main tasks had been warming the place and testing its security. You-Know-Who might be gone, but no one was foolish enough to think that all of his followers were dead or in Azkaban. Fortunately, Dora's parents were more than up for securing their vacation home.

It hadn't always been this way. She'd been eight when You-Know-Who had been defeated, and while Dora hadn't exactly lived her entire life in fear, she knew that times had been far better before he rose to power. She knew that her mum had two sisters she never saw, and that one of them was open about being on You-Know-Who's side. Dora hadn't exactly been isolated, because she spent a lot of time back then with her muggle relatives, but her parents were scared a lot of the time, even if they tried to hide it from her.

Looking back, Dora imagined that her mum, especially, might have been terrified that Bellatrix would have killed them all under You-Know-Who's orders. Perhaps, her sister had convinced him to spare them for now. Perhaps, he had his sights set on higher things than the death of a blood traitor, muggle-born, and half-blood child. Who knew what he'd been thinking?

She supposed you could only hide so much from a child when the wizarding world was under siege.

Now, they donned winter cloaks and added Warming charms on them, as well as Wind Repelling charms. Because on a windy winter day, that was even worse than cold temperatures.

Dora pulled her hood up against her head before they left the house. Everyone was smiling, and in spite of the extra work waiting for her, Dora was glad for the break. The salt air greeted her nose like a friend, and she breathed in deeply, an action echoed by her parents.

"I missed being here," Dora murmured, mostly to herself.

Her mum put an arm around her, holding Dora close. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Dora nodded. It was majestic, really. The waves moved slowly against the wind, but they persevered. Moving against the shore, getting smaller, and then the water returned back to the sea. Or ocean. Dora could never remember which the family house was located on. She preferred to think of it as an ocean.

Some birds flew overhead, too far away to make out clearly, but Dora knew that birds saw far more clearly than humans. Well, humans not using a vision-enhancing potion.

Ted moved so that he was holding both of them close to him, and to each other. He was a good head taller than Andromeda, and Dora only reached her mum's shoulders at this point. She often felt small next to her father, yet very protected.

Especially now, even though she didn't feel like she was in any danger here. Perhaps "loved" was a better word for her feelings at the moment than "safe." Both, even.

They walked slowly for awhile, well out of sight of the house, yet far away from any other magical homes. Then, they turned around and returned home.

Andromeda had made biscuits earlier, and now prepared hot chocolate once they removed their heavy cloaks and boots. Dora had to remove her boots by feel, because putting on and removing shoes in a corset could be challenging. Out of the shoes, she wiggled her toes within her socks happily before taking a seat at the kitchen table.

After their snack, Dora went to work on her Transfiguration reading and much shorter assignment. Professor McGonagall must have been in a good mood upon handling it out. Still, it was past four in the afternoon before she was finished.

"Come sit by us, love," her mum offered.

She needed no second invitation, especially after her mum gently guided her so that her head was in her lap, with two warm blankets covering Dora from the shoulders down. Then, her mum began to stroke her hair, and Dora felt a bit like a cat at that moment. Her dad removed her socks and gently began to rub her feet.

Dora sighed with pleasure. "Ohh, that feels so nice," she murmured. "I might fall asleep like this."

She heard my mum's chuckle. "You need the rest, I expect. Would you like me to loosen your corset a bit, honey?" Andromeda murmured, carding Dora's hair.

But Dora shook her head. "No, I'm already very comfortable."

She was, too. Her breaths came easy, deep and even. She wiggled her toes a bit, happiness and a feeling of contented tiredness filling her. She sighed with pleasure as her dad increased the pressure slightly on her feet, and again when he worked on the spaces between her toes.

Heaven, or the equivalent for witches and wizards, must be a bit like this.

"Mmm," she murmured.

She closed her eyes, and felt one of her mother's hands leave her head, briefly, to tuck her into the blankets more securely around her.

A spark of gratitude filled her. Dora hadn't been cold in the least, but the added warmth felt delicious. The only parts of her body not covered by the blankets were her head and her feet.

Dora rose to the smell of food, and immediately realized that she had slept until nearly dinner. The thought that the first day of Christmas holidays was nearly over was a sobering one. Still, there was over two weeks left, and she'd enjoyed her first day-well, except for the homework part. But she could probably finish the rest of her assignments over the next day or so.

In the meantime, the blankets were still warm around her body, and her mum had even tucked part of one blanket around her head. Her mum's arms were wrapped around her frame, too, adding a sense of security as well as warmth. Only Dora's face was exposed, which likely made her look very silly, but she was incredibly toasty and it was only her and her parents, so she decided not to care.

Beside Dora, her father was sitting on the couch, also wrapped up in blankets, but his hands were free as he was reading a book. He must have heard her stirring, because he leaned over and kissed her on the top of her forehead.

Dora smiled, and then carefully adjusted her position. It was easy enough to get up in an underbust corset, but overbusts were a bit more tricky. Not different, exactly, just needed a bit more maneuvering. Dora didn't feel stiff or uncomfortable, though. Far from it, as she allowed herself to relax into the hug once she'd sat up properly.

Which, right now, meant leaning a bit against her father with one leg tucked under the other. He placed his book in his lap, and wrapped an arm around her.

"Sleep well, little badger?"

Dora grinned at the nickname, and curled up against him. "Yeah, I had a good rest. What did you and Mum do while I was sleeping?"

"Oh, just saved the world from dark witches and wizards," came her mum's voice, sounding amused. "A few broke in while you were sleeping, but I told them to let you be."

"Actually," Ted put in, grinning as he got in on the joke, "your mum hexed them to smithereens and then told them that would teach them to even think about trying to hurt you."

"You took out a handful yourself, if I recall correctly," Andromeda quipped, not quite hiding a grin.

"Of course I miss all the fun," Dora grumbled. "Next time, just do a full body bind and let me try, would you?"

Ted kissed the top of her forehead again. "Only as long as we keep him in the full body bind first."

"Deal."

They shook on it, which meant Dora removing an arm from her blankets, and then covered herself with it. "Oh, it's so cold in the evening!"

"I'll strengthen the heat, and add a fire. I wasn't thinking, being in the kitchen," Andromeda said, almost apologetically. "And tomorrow, I'll look up how to strengthen the corridors. I'm convinced that's what's causing the chill."

"Sorry," Dora apologized.

"What for?" her mum asked, looking genuinely confused.

"Well, we-I-wanted to come here for the holidays. And had we stayed at home..."

Andromeda sat down next to her and pulled Dora into a tight hug. "Nonsense. The beach is lovely, and I'm glad you both pestered me." She gave her husband a smile. "Believe me, Dora, it was far more your father than you. Once we fix up the heating, we won't need to be covered up in blankets, because a good Warming charm will be enough." Then, she glanced at Dora. "Also, I expect that the one on your robes and corset might have faded by now. May I?"

Dora nodded, removing the blankets and letting her robes show. A moment later, they warmed up. Then, Andromeda had her lift them up, just for a moment, and she found a powerful heat around her chemise and her corset. Dora grinned.

"Oh, that's lovely. Thank you," she sighed, lowering her clothes.

Her mum pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her on the top of her forehead. "You're most welcome. That should keep you toasty until you change for bed, and I'll apply the charms then, once I help you lace up. If you want me to?" she asked, a bit uncertainly.

"Of course!" She'd missed that. "I told you that every girl in my house year is wearing a corset."

Andromeda laughed. "Yes. You even recruit the two from muggle families?"

Dora nodded. "And we didn't have to stun them and lace them up," she added, teasingly. Her mum burst into giggles at this. "They saw us lacing the first week, and wanted to see what it was like. We loaned them our spares that fit them the best, and they loved them! Elizabeth thinks she can persuade her mum to buy her one of her own. Sarah's mum's more skeptical, but she has not forbidden her, and Sarah thinks Elizabeth can try to persuade her."

"I hope they're successful, in both ways," Andromeda murmured. "My mum may have been harder on me than I would have liked, but as you know, there's nothing wrong with a teenager training her waist. As long as she takes it slowly, of course, there's nothing innately unhealthy about wearing a well-fitted corset." Andromeda smiled at Dora. "Have Sarah and Elizabeth been sleeping in them, too?"

"Not yet," Dora answered, "I reckon they don't want to, well, go that far without the consent of their parents, you know?"

"Of course, and they ought to have a specially made corset for that," Andromeda agreed. "How small have they become with daily wear?"

"Sarah has managed to lace down to eighteen and a half, and she started at twenty-two. Elizabeth is down to nineteen and a half, having started at twenty-four," Dora answered, without needing to recall the information.

After all, with everyone wearing a corset, they would all know each other's measurements nearly as well as their own.

"You say they wear them during all their waking hours?" Andromeda asked. "They don't take breaks for meals, or unlace early in the evenings?"

"No, they wear them whenever they're awake. Well, except for bathing," Dora specified.

"That's quite a good reduction for a few months of fourteen to fifteen hours a day," Andromeda mused. Teasingly, she added, "Sarah might bypass you if her mum allows her to have her way."

Dora shrugged. "It's not a competition."

"I'm just teasing you, honey," Andromeda laughed. "However small your waist gets or doesn't, I will still love you and be proud of you."

Dora nestled against her mum. "I love you, too. I just hope that Elizabeth and Sarah's parents will allow it. It would be awful to have to wear bras for three more years."

Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Not everyone minds them as much as you."

"No," Dora allowed, "but when you can go without them for months, you might find them uncomfortable if you have to wear one again."

"Yes," Andromeda conceded, with a laugh. "I see your point."

They ate dinner soon, and then Dora completed her Divination and History of Magic assignments. Perhaps, she would finish the others tomorrow.

Afterwards, it being only 8:00, she joined her parents in front of the TV. They snacked on popcorn and hot chocolate as they watched, Dora snuggled between them.

An hour later, she was trying not to fall asleep. It had been a rather long day, although a relatively enjoyable one, if you didn't count the homework. Finally, her mum intervened.

"Time for bed, I expect," she said softly.

Dora nodded, and her mum helped her to her feet.

"Do you want to shower first?" Andromeda asked, as she led Dora upstairs.

"I'm too tired. I'll bathe tomorrow morning, I promise," Dora answered.

"Very well." Andromeda gently ran a hand over Dora's hair. "I'll help you get ready for bed."

Dora removed her robes, and her mother unlaced her quickly. The release from the corset felt pleasant, and she stretched her muscles for a few minutes, the way her mum had taught her.

"I have never heard of someone becoming reliant on their corsets, but it can't hurt to make full use of your body when they're off," she'd told Dora.

As she stretched, her mum removed a nightgown from the top drawer, and then handed it to Dora when she was ready. Dora waited until her mum turned around before swapping out her chemise for the long, yet just as soft, nightgown. She had two different sets, both of the same inner material, but the kind she wore now had flannel on the outside. Once on, Andromeda warmed it with her wand.

Dora put on her night corset next, and fastened the front clasps with relative ease. Upon finishing, she held up her arms so her mother could lace her up. The snug feeling increased to a warm hug with each gentle pull, and long before Dora experienced any discomfort, her mother tied the laces into a generous bow. Dora beamed at her reflection in the mirror.

"You're lovely," Andromeda murmured, wrapping her arms around her. "Shall I brush your hair?"

"Yes, please."

Andromeda handed Dora her into a dressing gown, and then Dora sat down on a plush, velvet chair next to her bed. She felt her eyes close as her mother carefully, skillfully brushed out her hair, beginning at the ends to eliminate the tangles, and then moving higher until she reached Dora's scalp. It felt rather like a good scratch, and Dora had the mental image of a cat. She smiled to herself, closed her eyes, feeling sleepiness take over her.

Then, the brushing stopped. Dora rose, a bit unsteadily, and felt her mum removing the dressing gown. Before Dora could feel cold, she found herself tucked under the covers, her mum smoothing some stray hairs away from her face. Dora turned on her side, and her mum warmed the blankets even more. She let out a sleepy, contented sigh.

"Stay with me until I fall asleep?"

"Of course, honey."

Andromeda held her close, then kissed the top of her head, and continued to card her hair. When Dora opened her eyes next, it was morning.

Author's note:

It may appear to go against canon that Narcissa and Andromeda are in contact. However, from what I recall from canon, it's Bellatrix who makes this assertion, and Narcissa does not confirm nor deny it. I do believe that the combination of the Malfoy family wishing to redeem their image after being tried as Death Eaters, and the fact that Andromeda is Narcissa's sister and the only one NOT in Azkaban, would be enough reason to establish some communication. And if Voldemort returned to power and found out? They could claim politics, and say that they did just enough not to burn bridges entirely.

I do think that family loyalty was enough to keep Andromeda and her family from being targeted (at least, immediately) by Voldemort. Whatever the Black family might think of "blood traitors," they don't appear to kill them-just destroy their names from the tapestry.

Although I plan to update next weekend, I have to work on Saturday, so my update might not be out until Sunday.

Next up: More holiday fun for Dora, and perhaps their Christmas celebration? (I still have to work out the details)

As always, constructive feedback and ideas for future storylines would be most welcome!