Disclaimer: My name is not J.K. Rowling. I merely play in the wonderful world she has created.
I just realized that I forgot the disclaimer last chapter. Here it is for anyone who's actually looking; please don't sue me for my absentmindedness. Anyway, here's the next chapter.
It was two days before the fever broke. Narcissa was, as usual, sitting by Lucius' bed when she heard a shift and creak. Lucius looked at her with eyes that, while dull with pain, were now rational. " 'Cissa," he murmured softly before lapsing back into near unconsciousness. He was sane, and for that much Narcissa was grateful. A high fever could often drive a person to near insensibility with little chance for recovery.
It was another day before the rash started to spread. At this point, the Healers absolutely banned Lucius' family from the cell. This phase of the disease was the most contagious where the bacteria could be spread through touch or any form of contact at all, really. Narcissa was left to pace worriedly in her rooms and try to hide her concern from Draco.
Draco would have been worried if he had had the time for such things. Despite Lucius' illness, the Ministry was building the case against him. Draco, with the speed and efficiency born of desperation, was doing his best to block their attempts at searching the Manor until he could sell, hide, or destroy all evidence of the family's involvement with the Dark Arts. As it was, he had used up nearly all of his excuses and was only now getting to some of the most dangerous things, items that could not be found anywhere in these days and absolutely could not fall into the hands of the Ministry, the Dark Lord, or the assorted street wizards that populated Knockturn Alley. Draco, mostly because of his background, could handle these items without harm, but others could not.
Draco stopped for a moment when he heard his mother pacing once again in her room. She had said nothing to him about his father in the past week, but her worried pacing and near-constant frown was enough to tell Draco that Lucius was terribly ill, perhaps on the brink of death. In the wizarding world, smallpox often killed those who got it, as it was more virulent to Wizards than to Muggles. And in the time it took for Lucius to recover, Voldemort might very well declare him outcast. It was not a good place to be. Draco shuddered and went back to work. Ministry first, then the Dark Lord.
To Lanolin: As you can see, I'm continuing. I was just getting started in the last chapter; I hadn't really finished it yet. Glad you like the idea!