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Potters Pots.
Andromeda moved slowly from the apparition point. The crack, and pressure wave from bending reality around itself as it twisted and turned her stomach. Holding her chest, she stumbled two steeps forward before steadying herself.
Truth be told, even as a younger witch she’d always preferred using the Floo network over apparition. Still the familiar sights and sounds of Wizarding London assaulted her senses as she snapped back to reality. Diagon Alley. The cloy sweetness of magical bakeries and coffee shops mixed with a jovial bustle that had weathered and survived three Wizarding Wars continued to thrive.
She walked slowly through the streets towards her destination, a nondescript brick building that straddled the line between Diagon and Horizontal Alley, just far enough into Knockturn she kept a tighter grip on her purse and wand within arms reach but not so far she didn’t feel safe alone.
Her heels clicked against the cobbles, even as the sun started to set, bating the alley in golden twilight. Her thoughts drifted elsewhere, It was honestly ridiculous she was a forty year old witch, a widow, a...well maybe it wasn’t that ridiculous. Her sister had recommended the place during their weekly tea, ‘You should go, Andi, Its marvellously cleansing.’ Narcissa’s voice echoed in her head, the small corner of her lips curling upward in a ghost of a half smile as she had sipped from the bone china.
Finally arriving at her destination, the building looked even more run down than she imagined, the once red brick work was now covered in dirt and moss, the sign out front, small, and while certainly not invisible, would never be noticed by a passer by unless they were directly looking for it. Perhaps they weren't hiding, but they were clearly not open for business to just anyone.
‘Potters Pottery: Ceramics and Pots’ the black on red lettering, rusted around the edges. She shouldn’t be nervous, this was Harry after all, she assured herself as she pushed upon the heavy iron doors. The hinges squealed in protest as the door scraped along the concrete floor.
“Hello?” She called out. There was no immediate response as she stepped inside. Struck by the smell of mud, clay and something else that was entirely unique. She heard a clatter of something in the back, moving quickly, she poked her head into better lit area, the enchanted candles giving off a bright, silver white light that she supposed would be akin to muggle fluorescent.
Harry was stood there, several clay pots in hands moving from one shelf to another, in a haphazard stack. Which looked like it was about to topple over any moment from his arms.
Andromeda took several quick steps forward crossing the distance in a stride, “Potter! Here let me help with that!”
The words blurting out before she could think, already reaching out to steady the precarious stack of clay pots while moving them into her arms and onto the shelf.
Harry let out a small laugh. “Thanks!” He replied after a moment, wiping down his apron which was stained with fresh clay. “Sorry about that. Ms Tonks-Uh Ms Black, I’m not late am I? For Teddy?”
“No, not at all,” Andromeda shook her head letting out a small nervous laugh. “I’ve told you before, Harry – You can call me Andromeda. ‘Ms Tonks’ makes me sound like an overly strict school teacher.” She groused wrinkling her nose, the way her daughter would have in indignation, Nymphadora was dead. So was her Ted. They were dead and she was alone, Teddy was all she had left. the thought briefly piercing her mind like a frozen hex, still biting even now after all this time before she pushed it down. Schooling her features into something she hoped was less pained. “Actually I’m here for Pottery lessons.”
Harry couldn’t help the impish grin that crossed his lips, as he ran a hand through the perpetually messy mop of hair. “Oh. That’s Great!” He declared happily. “The lessons aren't exactly official, honestly I don’t even know if I’m any good at it but my mind healer says I should find things I enjoy…” He trailed off.
Andromeda knew that Harry like her hadn’t exactly had the best childhood, not that he talked about it much with her, or anyone else. “Cissa, tells me its therapeutic.” She replied taking a step back from the stack of pots now that they were no longer in danger of toppling.
“A Little,” Harry acknowledged with a small smile. “Something about creating something new from raw material. Its like magic I guess.”
“I could see how that could be appealing.” Andromeda answered though her voice betrayed her scepticism.
“I know it sounds completely barney,” Harry admitted with another small laugh gesturing for her to follow, “But just withhold judgement until you’ve at least tried it Ms- Andromeda.” He corrected himself. Watching as she smiled falling in behind him as they moved to a deeper part of the building.
“You picked a place out of the way, Harry,” Andromeda commented looking around at the bare beams and brick work. “No one would know you were here if they weren't told.“
Harry laughed again moving into an open workspace, the scent of clay and earthy mud was even stronger here, with several stacks of raw clay stored in large slabs. A Potters wheel in the middle of the room sat idle. “That’s kind of the idea. This is my place, I’m tired of being poked and prodded by the world, magical and muggle alike…”
Before she could enquire further Harry produced a blue apron from a hook behind a shelf. “Here. Put this one, this can get, uh, a little messy, I don’t want to ruin your lovely clothes.” He said with a gesture.
Andromeda took the garment clasping it in her hands, hooking it over the brown ringlets of her hair, tying it into a messy bun and using her wand to pin it. “Well it wouldn’t be the first outfit I’d ruined” She replied with a small grin turning around presenting her back to him. “Could you?”
“Sure,” Harry agreed with a small laugh. Moving close behind her, his fingers moved along the cloth cord, pulling it tight around her waist and tying it. The sides of his hands brushing against her velvet skirt every few seconds causing her breath to quicken before he stepped back. “There you go.”
Andromeda covered her fluster with a cough into her hand, It was hardly out of the ordinary. Harry had tied an apron for her before, when he stayed over on weekends to help look after Teddy and cook breakfast, some regular workday evenings too when she thought about it, Harry had become a regular in her town house but here with just the two of them without Teddy running around giggling or drawing their attention She couldn’t deny if felt more intimate. “Thanks” she said finally. “So, how does this work.”
Harry slowly moved her toward the Wheel, patting the stool for her to sit. She did, tucking her legs in under it, her skirt flowing down around her ankles. “Have you ever done anything like this before?”
Andromeda shook her head, “No” she admitted with just the slight hint of hesitation.
Harry nodded, “Alright then we’ll start with something easy.” With a thud, he slapped a medium sized piece of raw clay onto the wheel before taking a seat behind her. Then with a wave of his wand, a tiny water charm, “Its a simple process. You use the pedals to make the wheel spin faster or slow down. Muggle ones are electric but well magic and electricity don’t play well together.”
Andromeda listened intently as Harry explained, tapping her feet on the pedals to make the wheel spin, digging her thumbs into the raw clay, gouging out long tracks. “No, like this.” Harry interrupted placing his palms over hers, guiding her touch, “Be gentle. Small movements. Its like Charm work use a light touch, it needs precision and control.”
Andromeda’s skin warmed under his touch, Harry’s sleeves were rolled up at the elbow, the scratch of his arm hairs against her skin. it wasn’t something she had meant to notice. She adjusted the speed of the table in small increments, the clay was wet and slick, as the shape of the lump of dirt was starting to round under her thumbs.
“Now pull it up at the edges.” Harry instructed, Andromeda obeyed, adjusting the movements and placement of her fingers, the rim of the clay started to rise, “That’s it you’re doing great Andromeda.”
The simple bowl started in her hands forming. A Small laugh escaped Andromeda. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she worked the clay, her fingers delicately smoothing the lip of the bowl, then adding tiny details with her nails. Her foot tapping rhythmically against the pedal to maintain the speed of the wheel fully absorbed in the almost hypnotic pull.
It wasn’t perfect, it was far from perfect but neither was she. “I think I might be getting the hang of this.”
Harry grinned at her from behind, adjusting her hands every so often, though needing to do so less and less with each turn. “You’re a quick learner,” He complemented. Still leaning close to her, he was hit with a small hint of her perfume – a rosy floral bouquet with a hint of juniper.
“I was always a quick study”, Andromeda declared as she continued to form her bowl. “Back at Hogwarts the Black Sisters were known as the terrible three.”
Harry let out a slow chuckle in acknowledgment, “Oh I find that hard to believe.”
Andromeda snorted in response, slowing down the wheel keeping control of her creation until it came to a stop. “Oh trust me, Potter. We were very good and being bad. I was a right rebel back then. Bella, Cissa and I strode through that castle like we owned the place.”
“I bet you drove McGonagall batty,” Harry replied with a deep laugh that reverberated in his chest, which vibrated into Andromeda’s back.
“I always got the feeling she was disappointed in me, If I’m honest,” Andromeda let her gaze drift for just a moment away from her clay bowl. “I think she always expected me to do more with my life than how I turned out.”
Harry raised an eyebrow. “Oh? I can’t imagine McGonagall being disappointed in anyone, what happened?”
Andromeda shrugged slightly, her shoulder slumping against Harry’s torso. “I met Ted in my Seventh year, and ended Pregnant. I don’t think she ever really forgave me for it.”
“But you raised a great daughter. Tonks was amazing,”
Was amazing, Andromeda thought bitterly, another reminder Nymphadora was gone, another reminder of everything she’d lost. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up,” Harry’s hands tightened around her waist, his grip shifting just slightly.
Andromeda shifted just a little into the touch, “It’s okay.” she tilted her head to admire her work, “I think this is done.”
“Lets get it in the drying room then,” Harry answered, while running a cutting wire to slice through the wet bottom before delicately picking the bowl up. “If you want to come back tomorrow, we can get this glazed.”
Andromeda’s ears perked up, already feeling the lack of warmth of Harry behind her. She wiped her hands on her apron. “That sounds like fun actually,” she mused at the thought of placing tiny decorations. “I bet I could put some charms on it too.”
Nodding in agreement, Harry returned from the drying room, “I bet you could.”
Andromeda stood, raising from the small stool, untying her apron before placing it back into the hook. She exhaled a small nervous breath, “So, do you want to come over tonight for Dinner? Tonight I mean, if you don’t mind hanging around with an old woman.”
Harry snorted as he leaned against one of the steel shelving units. “You’re not old,” he dismissed almost off hand, making Andromeda’s cheeks turn a slight pink, before he added. “I’d love too. We getting take out or are you cooking?”
“Are you criticizing my cooking, Mister Potter?” Andromeda put her hand on her hips tilting her head as she raised her eyebrows teasingly.
“I would never.” Harry defended with a cheeky grin, his eyes sparkled in amusement, then after a beat added, “besides. I like your cooking.”
Andromeda lifted her head up, turning her nose in the air though the smile was in her eyes, filled with mirth. “Good Save, Potter.”
“Let me just close up and we’ll head out,” the words rushing out, Harry rubbed the back of his head, mussing his already messy hair before he disappeared deeper into the warehouse.
Andromeda leaned back against one of the wooden tables, listening to Harry moving around clutter somewhere out of sight, resting her palms on the surface, as she watched Harry moved back and forth, she couldn’t help but feel something was shifting. She still missed Ted and Nymphadora. Some days even now the loss felt like a never ending bottomless well of sadness that could sneak up on her and leave her parallelized. She still didn’t know if she had it in her to do it all again, be a wife or perhaps even a mother but for the first time since what felt like forever taking a step forward didn’t feel like she was falling into that well.
She laughed to herself, Maybe Narcissa was right about all this being therapeutic after all. She could just picture the smirk on her younger sisters face. That knowing half smile that drove her nuts.
Harry stood watching, while packing away another box of assorted items, as Andromeda seemed to zone out for a moment, “You okay, Andromeda?”
Andromeda looked up, startled out of her internal reverie, tucking a lock of her brown hair behind her ear. She nodded. “I’m okay, Harry.” She replied and for the first time in a long time, it felt like the truth. “Let’s go get dinner” She added hooking her arm into Harry’s the tightness in her chest loosening, along with the guilt of just living.
Looking down at their joined arms, Harry smiled, “Sounds like a plan.” he noted as they took a joined step towards the large steel door.
Andromeda tensed, “Are you sure you don’t have anywhere else to be? A Handsome Wizard on a Friday night?”
His gentle laughter met and answered her question, even as she tucked her head against Harry’s shoulder. “I assure you, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.”