After nearly a week without homework (although some reading in the afternoon) and relaxing, Christmas morning arrived. Dora slept easily enough the night before. Her cousins grew up learning about Father Christmas, but to her, the idea of owls flying around in a nearly mad race to deliver everyone's gifts on time struck her as just as exciting as the muggle myth. Besides, unlike her cousins, she would not learn that this was only a story parents told their children.
If she had stayed at school, her presents would be by her bed when she rose. Her mum had told her this, having spent Christmas at school during her OWL and NEWT year. But Dora would see her presents under the large tree her parents had decorated before her arrival. Dora had, of course, purchased presents for every one of her roommates, although some were harder to buy for than others. Sweets were usually a safe choice, and she selected those for half of her friends.
As per Tonks family tradition, everyone rose early, and gathered in the family room wearing their night clothes, covered by warm dressing gowns. The house smelled lovely-her mum must have been up after Dora went to bed to do extra baking and cooking-and the bottom of their Christmas tree was, of course, covered in gifts.
Rather more gifts than usual, in fact.
"Happy Christmas!" her mum greeted her, then pulled her in for a customary hug.
"Happy Christmas, Mum!" Dora returned, grinning broadly.
After her dad stole her from her mum long enough for his own bear hug, he glanced around the tree in wonder.
"Looks like nearly twice as many presents as last year!" he noted, with a laugh. "Shall we begin opening them?"
This was the family tradition. No one could focus on food when there were presents to be opened, and her parents were almost as childlike as Dora when it came to celebrating Christmas.
Andromeda got down to a sitting position, followed by Dora, and then Ted, and they began to sort through the various packages.
Most of the gifts, it turned out, were for Dora. It appeared that she had not been the only one who had gone beyond giving her usual group of friends presents. All seven of her roommates had sent her gifts, ranging from books to her favorite sweets, to small pieces of decorative jewelry.
Sarah, remembering Dora's love of sunflowers, had sent over a lovely pair of earrings. Dora beamed as she immediately put them on her ears, and received compliments from her parents.
After she finished opening the gifts from her friends, Dora turned her attention to the still large pile from family.
"What shall I open next?" she asked, glancing from one parent to another.
Her mum looked at the pile, then lifted a rather medium sized parcel, wrapped in green paper.
"There's your gift from Aunt Cissy," Andromeda coaxed, handing it to her.
Dora laughed. "Of course, as she always uses Slytherin colors."
"Nothing wrong with some Slytherin students," her father protested.
"Sure, but it's not like I wrap every gift I send in yellow and black," she answered, amiably.
"Just during your first year, love," Andromeda reminded her.
Dora, blushing a bit at the embarrassing memory, accepted the parcel from her mum. She knew that obediently, her mum had sent a similar gift to her cousin, Draco, even though the two had never met. Then again, even if they didn't have issues with the whole blood purity nonsense, the two would have had enough trouble finding common ground. Draco Malfoy was a six year old boy, after all. A girl cousin might have been all right-they could play with dolls and such-but a six year old boy would just need to be babysat. Which made Dora wonder how her mum knew what to send the nephew she'd never met.
Perhaps, Aunt Cissy gave hints or instructions in her owls to Andromeda, and Andromeda did the same. Otherwise, she supposed it was guesswork to determine what the other child would enjoy. And what cost enough to be considered an appropriate gift.
Dora politely opened the attached card, first. Not that it was particularly unusually, as her aunt said nearly the same thing to her each year. Happy Christmas, hope lessons are going well, and she hoped Dora would enjoy the gift. This year, there was a brief comment about her hopes for Dora's continued development, which she reckoned meant that her mum had told her aunt Dora had begun to train her waist. Dora didn't mind, but felt a bit of relief that the emphasis on manners prevented her aunt from spelling it out in writing.
Next, she carefully (for her) opened the green wrapping paper, and upon seeing what was inside, Dora had to admit her Aunt Cissy had done quite well with selecting a gift. Her present was a music box, charmed to play classic songs from the wizarding world. On top stood a witch in traditional robes and she had, Dora noticed, a very small waist. She smiled at her parents.
"It's beautiful! I'll send her a thank you note tomorrow," Dora promised.
Thank you notes were the extent of her communication with her aunt.
Andromeda smiled fondly. "I had one of these as a girl. It's not the same as the one she gave you, but it's likely made by the same family. I expect," she added, in response to Dora's unasked question, "it's in one of the Black attics somewhere."
Dora nodded. Her mum couldn't have packed up everything she owned before she'd left-it would have been impractical, and likely would have drawn suspicion-so most of her gifts from childhood must have remained behind. Dora wondered how her mum had managed to sneak all of her fancy dresses and corsets, but perhaps, they'd been in one of her chests of drawers, and would not go noticed if they disappeared for a week.
Now, her parents urged her in the direction of the gifts they had chosen for her. Dora grinned with anticipation, and was not at all disappointed.
Among other beautiful odds and ends, there included few new clothes (beautiful robes that were in between casual and dress robes, which could be worn to Hogsmeade or to a friend's house, but also included extra chemises, nightgowns, and a gorgeous blue dressing gown that had a lovely long, full skirt), a new set of players for Wizard's Chess, ample amounts of her favorite sweets, a beautiful doll that had once belonged to her mother, a lovely enchanted snow globe of their beach house and the surrounding ocean, and some books that she couldn't wait to begin reading.
But it might have been the last gift, presented by her mum while her dad went to check on breakfast, that was Dora's favorite. It was a small golden necklace that featured a golden hourglass in the center, and numerous amethyst stones throughout.
"It's beautiful," Dora murmured, as her mother fastened it around her neck. It reached just below her collar bone, which Dora thought was the perfect length for necklaces. "Thank you, Mum."
Andromeda smiled, then removed a pocket mirror from her robes. Dora gazed at her reflection, and then grinned.
"We all received these the Christmas after our waists reached eighteen inches," she explained. "The eighteen stones stand for each inch. It was quite an occasion to receive one. Mine were amethyst, Cissy's were ruby, and Bella's were opal."
Dora fingered the hourglass. "It's beautiful, Mum," she repeated. "Thank you. I love it."
"My mother received another one when she reached thirteen inches. It was a combination of other precious stones. She wore it with pride until her death. None of us managed that measurement, so she requested to be buried in it, and if any generation of pure blood reached that measurement, it was to be sent by magic to them. Mind, without starting at ten years of age and reverting to torture, I doubt that will be accomplished," Andromeda added, with a lighter laugh. "Even Bella never got below fourteen, and she was highly motivated."
"The book I'm reading says that there's evidence of waists as small as twelve inches," Dora noted, "but yeah, there was probably torture involved."
"Mmm. I don't doubt that excessive methods were employed to achieve the smallest sizes. My grandmother had a twelve inch waist before she married, although it was thirteen after the birth of my mother. Mother said that her mother began her at age ten, and used punishment corsets with curses." Andromeda shuddered a bit, then managed a smile. "You're nearly finished with the book, aren't you? Bella, Cissy, and I all read it during our time at school, but it took the longest time to plow through."
"Oh, it's very dense, but interesting!" Dora laughed.
"They certainly wrote in a rather long-winded manner back then," her mum agreed, taking a seat on the couch, and gesturing for Dora to sit beside her. "No doubt, in another hundred years, they won't understand what we write on the first read."
Ted popped his head out. "The food's ready when you are."
Dora was about to head in, but her mother put a hand on her shoulders. Confused, she turned around.
"What's wrong?"
Then, she saw her mum removing her dressing gown, and taking off her corset. Not just loosening it an inch or so. Dora stared at her.
"It's only one day a year, and I want to indulge fully, right down to two large slices of cake." She grinned, looking rather like a teenager. "Will you join me?"
Dora hesitated for only a moment. It was just a day, after all, and it would be nice to eat what she wanted-and however much she wanted-without worrying about a massive stomachache.
"All right, then," she answered, with a grin of her own. "Would you...?"
Her mother had already begun to remove Dora's dressing gown.
An hour later, they slumped in their seats, and Dora felt as unladylike as she must look. But, oh, it had been worth every mouthful. Bacon, crispy as anything. Delicious eggs, lightly burned, just as she liked them. Stacks of pancakes loaded with butter and jam. Even the donuts, which was a dessert Dora hadn't trusted herself to eat for months, had been so delicious she'd eaten two. She likely ate more that morning than she would have for breakfast and lunch. She rubbed her stomach, grateful that there was no corset there to get in the way of digesting it all.
And yes, it was rather nice it was to be able to slouch, not to have to sit up straight at all times. She did not really mind the upright posture, as by now it was second nature, but to be able to slump backwards felt almost decadent. She grinned to herself, matched by her mum's.
"My word, I don't think I can manage another bite!" Andromeda laughed.
She'd eaten even more than Dora, and wasn't sitting in her usual upright posture. But she was hardly slouching, either. Dora pushed herself against her chair in some resemblance of decorum.
"Me neither. I am positively stuffed." She grinned. "And it was all delicious."
She was rather sleepy, though, and by the look of it, so were her parents.
They had always taken a nap after their breakfast before enjoying the main meal later in the day. As a child, Dora and her father would go outside and enjoy the snow, but if it snowed at all on the beach, they hadn't experienced it.
"You two have a rest. Let the food settle before our main meal," Ted instructed, pulling them each to their feet. "I'll handle the dishes, and then join you. How about in Dora's room, as it's closer?"
"Sounds like a good plan. I would Apparate us there, but I don't trust my concentration not to splinch us," Andromeda murmured. She stretched. "Oh, that does feel nice."
Once in bed, Andromeda fell asleep almost immediately, but Dora found that could not get comfortable. In spite of the warm blankets, she felt rather cold. Then, there was the lack of her corset, the steel blanket that kept her feeling safe and warm at all times.
Should she put it on?
But she'd just have to take it off in a few hours, when they ate their main meal. Well, she finally decided, it would be better than struggling to fall asleep. She'd lace loosely, perhaps just to feel a hug around her sides.
It was a good thing she had spare ones. Dora walked over to her closet, removed an overbust that closed at eighteen inches, and made her way to the bathroom. She could do the clasps up by feel, usually, but relied on a mirror to make sure the laces were even.
She stopped pulling when it came to be snug enough to feel comfortable. Measuring herself, it came to nineteen. Dora considered loosening them a bit, but decided against it. She felt entirely at ease. Tying the laces into a bow, she then secured them to the bottom front. Then, she climbed back into bed, and pulled the covers over her. Much better than before. Warmth flows through her frame, and Dora closed her eyes. When she rose, she found that she had slept very soundly for a few hours.
Her mother already awake, but her arms were still around Dora, and she was looking at her in an amused fashion.
Dora yawned. "Hello. Sleep well?"
"Very well, and you? I see the corset fairy paid you a visit in your sleep," Andromeda noted, with a smile.
Dora was sure her face had reddened. "I, er, couldn't really fall asleep without it. Missed the hug, and the warmth, I suppose."
She looked down at the blankets. Had she done something wrong? Was it a sign of dependency, that she couldn't go more than a few hours without it?
Her mother's put her arms around her shoulders, and Dora looked up. To her relief, her mum was smiling.
"I can't tell you the number of times when, in the early months after I married your father, I went to bed unlaced and then snuck out of bed after he was asleep. Like you, I couldn't sleep comfortably without them." Andromeda paused, then added, "It's why I lace at night, as much as to maintain my sixteen inch waist during the day."
"But you managed all right today," Dora reminded her.
"I worked at it for years, and I still sleep laced at night," Andromeda explained. "Now, answer me honestly. Did you because you felt you would lose ground, or because you weren't comfortable enough?"
Dora didn't need to think about her answer. "Because I wasn't comfortable enough."
Andromeda nodded, then smiled. "It's nothing to worry about, then. Especially during the cold months, there's nothing quite like a warm hug around your frame."
Dora grinned. "Especially waking up in one."
Her mum laughed, a beautiful sound, and drew Dora close. "Especially that."
A light snore told Dora that her father had kept his promise and joined them in their nap. Her bed was large, so large that three people could easily fit without cramming themselves together.
Andromeda glanced over at her husband with a look of affection.
"Do you want to switch spots?" Dora asked.
"In a bit. You can have the middle spot for now," Andromeda offered, still holding Dora.
They remained like that for awhile, until Dora's father rose, and she found herself wrapped in a hug by both of her parents until their growling stomachs declared it was time for the main meal.
Dora, of course, unlaced so she could truly enjoy the good food.
Her breakfast had settled nicely in her stomach without any problems, and she was looking forward to indulging more.
They certainly ate lots of the good food her mum had prepared, all their favorite holiday favorites. This time, though, they didn't eat at the dining room table, but relaxed on the couches. Another Tonks family tradition.
Afterwards, Ted turned on the TV, where there were reruns of muggle Christmas movies were playing. Munching on some freshly made popcorn, they watched for some time before going to bed.
Laced to a comfortable nineteen and a quarter inches, Dora fell asleep with a contented smile on her face.
It had been a lovely Christmas.
Author's note:
Although I have a couple more chapters that are mostly ready to be posted, I'm not sure if I will continue with weekly updates after that. Part of it is that I began writing again for a fandom I haven't written for since my teenage years, and that's rather taken up my interest. So, if you don't see an update for a bit, that's why.
As always, feedback and ideas for storylines are most welcome!