Dear Mr Malfoy
Soaring Phoenix School will of course honour your request,
Mrs Dursley, will meet you first thing Monday morning at nine,
if this time is an inconvenience to you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
As for your request to keep your visit concealed, this will not be an issue,
no one at the school talks to the press but myself. And even though your son
is not a member of a school, we take pride in not divulging any of our visitors or
students information. This to us is a breach of trust. Please Appariate to the school gates.
We look forward to your visit, if you have any questions
please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind Regards
Miss A Potter
Headmistress of Soaring Phoenix School of Sign Language.
The small white building, that Draco Apparited to looked much like it was built for office purposes, with the all clear windows. Two-storey high. Draco thought the school would have been larger than that considering the amount of space that came attached to it. Though the grounds were filled with playground and other pieces of equipment Draco remembered seeing in a school book, though could not recall the name of them. He must have been the first to arrive, that or the students were already in class, Draco was unsure of which.
He made his way up the path, Draco had to commend Potter for something, a lot of time and effort must have gone into building the place, this school of hers. The enchantments behind hiding a building like this. Draco still hardly believed it, and he hoped as he had once hoped that Potter was the answer. A reception desk greeted him as he walked through the entrance doors. The building was welcoming, warm and bright due to the amount of light the windows admitted.
"Draco!"
The voice was familiar, very familiar. Draco froze upon the spot, blinking, though the voice was familiar it sounded softer from the last time he had heard it. Draco closed his eyes, took a breath, opened his eyes again then turned around. His eyes could barely believe what he was seeing, his friend looked so well, almost glowing, he supposed that they had a right too, considering the baby bump that graced their form. A hesitate smile upon her face, but she looked just like the last time he had seen her.
"Pansy," Draco acknowledge her in return, he cleared his throat. "I have a meeting with Mrs Dursley."
"You're looking at her." Pansy said, her head turned downward for a second, before she met his gaze. "Come with me, stand on my right side as we tour."
Pansy gave no explanation for her request, but Draco done so. Pansy took him all over the school, Draco was amazed, three of the rooms were filled with arts and crafts, there was a large room filled with ovens and hobs. Several classrooms, most of them brightly decorated, posters filled the walls.
"So how comes you're working for Potter," Draco said finally, "Only the last time I know you had any interaction with her, you were about to hand her over-"
"Don't," Pansy said simply, her face had grimace up. "Just don't." Her dark eyes met his own. "Come with me."
...
"It's been too long Draco." Pansy said as she placed a cup of tea in front of him. They were clearly in what was the staff room. She sat down opposite him, her face screwed up in concentration.
"Just tell me what happened."
Pansy closed her eyes for a moment, let out a sigh, "My parents disinherited me, almost seven years ago."
Draco reached out to her, "Why didn't you reach out."
"I couldn't," Pansy said, "I was so ashamed - especially of myself."
"But why?"
"After the war - people hadn't forgot that I tried to hand over Aria - despite my selfish reasons - it was just a normal day in Diagon Alley, and I was attacked. They took the hearing from my left ear. My parents saw no use in me, I could find no work. I was cut off and had no money." Pansy teared up, Draco had never seen her cry, didn't think that he would ever see the day. "I found myself in a Muggle town - I didn't know what else to do. I always thought that Muggles were beneath me. Then I met my husband Dudley, we got to talking, his history was similar to mine - disinherited from his family. We clicked. Dudley said he knew someone who could help me, communicate, maybe even help me get a job. That's how I ended up here."
Draco felt like he had missed some information. Pansy obviously caught on for she elaborated; "Aria is his cousin."
"Potter taught you this - sign language."
Pansy nodded. "She's amazing - an annoying Gryffindor still, but truly amazing. She's given a new lease of life, to those that before would have never been able to even have a wand - sign language is a muggle method of communication - the wizarding world, our world has so much to catch up on. She's hoping to change all of that, this school is just the starting point."
"Ever the hero." Draco muttered.
"You could say that," Pansy replied, "Theo works here too. Security."
Draco was surprised by that, Potter hired Slytherin's, "So tell me, how did Potter get into this?"
"You're one of my oldest friends Draco," Pansy said, "But I will not betray Aria for you. Theo won't either. Now would you like to see a class in action? Everyone here signs, but I'll translate any questions you have."
"I only have one question, for now," Draco said, "Why did Potter not see me herself."
"She thought, given your history with each other, that this would be better off for you. Aria will of course meet with you, find out what support is needed."
Draco nodded, Potter had a brain after all, "Classroom then."
