Disclaimer: Still don't own Harry Potter, or anything else I don't own.

Author's Notes: Please read, and please review! Thanks.

"Be my savior, And I'll be your downfall," Savior, Matchbox 20.

Chapter Five

The Struggle

Seconds seemed like days over the next three hours. Theodora sat worried by her master's bed, while Narcissa tried every spell known to wizards to help her child. It was all to no avail. It seemed as though all Narcissa could do was pray to whatever goddess or god that was listening that they restore her son.

Three days passed with little to no event. Lucius was too busy mailing and preparing the house for the Thorns' visit. Everything had to be perfect. Not a single hair out of place, not a single speck of dust to be spotted. This kept Narcissa busy as well, supervising the house elves to make sure everything was to her husband's pleasure, so as not to anger him. One more hit could mean death to Draco.

Narcissa watched over her son, on Friday the Thorns would arrive, and it was all ready Monday. Some progress had been seen in Draco, but it was a slow progression towards health. Nothing could come in contact with Draco that could possibly hurt him, or all would be loss. When Narcissa wasn't busy, she spent the rest of her time guarding her only son.

Tuesday evening Narcissa made her way down to dinner, tired and worn out from her busy day. It seemed as though there was always something to do, something to clean or rearrange or prepare…all for one (hopefully) uneventful visit. That evening, Severus had been invited to the manor as well, and as Narcissa entered the dining room, soon both he and Lucius entered as well.

"Good evening Lucius, welcome Severus," Narcissa said, her voice a cross of casual and formal, with an air of dignity mixed in. Sometimes Narcissa shocked herself over her demeanor, which, more often than not, was opposite of her true feelings.

Lucius gave a nod, and Severus gave a short bow and replied, "It is good to see you well, Narcissa."

"The same of you, Severus," Narcissa said, and they all sat down, as their dinner appeared on their plates.

"So, I hear Frank is visiting you this Friday?" Severus inquired, not impolitely.

"Yes, it'll be a nice reprieve to be in the company of another family that is in like to us," said Lucius, indicating all of those in the room.

Narcissa agreed, looking into the dark eyes of her son's godfather. He noticed, and she looked away, a little too quickly. Her heart beating a little faster than necessary. She quickly recovered.

"I visited him not too long ago myself," Severus said, as they began to eat their meals.

"Isn't it true that Frank is your brother?" asked Lucius, knowing the answer.

"Yes, half brother, on my mother's side," Severus said. "Will his children and wife be coming as well?" Severus trying to casually direct the conversation in a different direction.

Severus did not like talking of bloodlines. It was not a well known secret that he himself was impure. That he was a half blood. Of course, he tried to tell himself that blood didn't matter, that families were not perfect despite blood, for look at how, despite his and Narcissa's best attempts at redirecting Lucius's rage, Draco suffered from his father? Were they not pureblood? He tried to tell himself that muggles were no better or worse than the wizarding world as a whole, but often he fell short of truly believing that fact.

"Would you like to join us? I'm sure that I could get Frank to agree," Lucius said.

"I'm not s0 sure I should intrude - " Severus said, uncertainly. He and Frank did not get along the best.

"Nonsense, I shall see you here at noon, or perhaps a little before, friend," Lucius said. "And perhaps we shall celebrate tonight?"

Lucius's suggestion hung in the air. Severus had not seen Draco, nor was he blind to his godson's condition, which a letter from Narcissa had informed him off. If Lucius were to get drunk, there would be no redirecting him if he made it up in his mind to take out his frustration on his son.

"I'm sorry, Lucius, but what with my studies and course work, I do not know if I shall have the time tonight, finals are coming up very soon," Severus replied, using his position at university to excuse himself. After all, while potions came naturally to him, it was not without a good deal of work could one call himself a potions master.

"That is too bad, I think I shall go myself then. Yes, I will," Lucius said, spoiling Severus's attempt to keep Lucius sober tonight.

"I hope you enjoy your night out," Severus said.

"Yes, I will," Lucius said, a twinkling in his eye, and a smile on his face as he raised from his chair and stood at the door of the dining room. "If it is not too impolite of me, Severus, I shall take my leave, and you can when you are ready."

Severus nodded. Narcissa could hear Lucius's footsteps as he made his way outside and down the stairs, and, though they could not hear it, inevitably outside and to the Hogshead or some other such pub.

"Severus," said Narcissa, who stood now, as did Severus, and they made their way out of the dining room. "What am I to do? He can't - he can't touch Draco…it would be…disastrous." Her voice was barely a whisper.

Severus looked at her, not unkindly. He was a distant man, and cared not much for emotions. If it weren't for his little niece or Draco, his heart would certainly have frozen over before the end of the war. Yet, somehow he had survived through his childhood, his Hogwart's years, and the war, still alive and in tact, his emotions still apart of him, if not a very well hidden part of him.

"I know Narcissa, I know," Severus said quietly.

"Please, you have to help me, take Draco to your home, you could - "

"You know I can't. Even if I did, he would find him there, you know that," Severus said.

"I know but - " Narcissa said.

"You know if I thought Draco was in any danger of his life, I would prevent it. Look, I'll go find him, alright, Narcissa? I'll try to make sure he can handle himself tonight, and I'll warn you when he is about to come home, alright?"

Narcissa nodded. Severus let a tiny, strained smile reach his face and then he turned away from her, his robes billowing behind him. Narcissa, a little more at ease returned to her son.

It wasn't until the early hours of the morning did Severus contact Narcissa, who was between the waking and dreaming worlds, still at her son's bed. Severus showed up, out of breath, though still looking in control like he always did. His robes were covered in dirt particles and parts were torn.

"Narcissa…he got into a fight…at the pub…he came home…he's…really angry…Draco…I tried to keep him from coming home angry…and he only got angry with me too…" Severus said between breaths.

"Did he?" Narcissa's question hung in the air as she heard her husband's angry steps approaching.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing here Severus? Did I not tell you to stay out of my business, go home!" Lucius yelled, menacingly.

"Lucius, you're drunk, don't - " Severus began, his voice back to his normal tone, calm reasonable, as was his demeanor.

"Go, before the ministry, or I, am forced to remove you, you've done enough tonight," Lucius said, no longer yelling.

Severus realized that he was a Slytherin, that this wasn't any of his business. It wasn't his family, after all. But it was his godson. He should leave, certainly Draco would be ok, Narcissa would protect him…But Narcissa was weak, and if she were to kill Lucius, Draco would have no mother. Severus tried to find reason, tried to sort the shades of gray in his mind, but before he could even pull his wand out in the few seconds it had taken him to come to the conclusion that he should do so, Lucius had already set a curse at him as well as a full body bind.

"It is time for you to leave, friend," Lucius said calmly, as though he were talking to him in normal conversation.

Lucius put another spell on him that sent him out the door and back to his own home.

"Narcissa, get out of my way," Lucius said.

"Lucius, please, what has Draco done?"

"He has been unreasonable, no one can remain this sick for this long, I shall teach him not to deceive us Narcissa," Lucius said.

"But, he truly is sick, surely you can see that!" Narcissa begged.

Lucius pushed his way toward his son, who was holding onto a consciousness he had reached when he had heard his godfather's voice.

"He is sick because he associated with lowly muggles, he has brought this upon himself!" Lucius said. "I shall teach him never to do so."

Lucius was three feet from Draco's bed, who was struggling to get out of bed and stand.

"Stop, stop this instant!" Narcissa said.

"What did you say to me?" Lucius asked, his face contorted in anger as he turned to direct himself at his wife.

"Leave him alone, Lucius, I mean it, I'll - " Narcissa said, her wand out and ready.

Lucius laughed, "Narcissa, you daren't think that you could beat me?"

She looked at him determinedly, and shot a spell at her husband, angry, he easily deflected the spell, and disarmed her with barely the flick of his wand. "Foolish move," Lucius said, striding out to meet Narcissa.

He slapped her hard across the face, the force of which pushed her into the hallway. They struggled, and as they did, neither saw Draco struggle to his feet, and force his way to the door.

"Mum?" he said at the door frame, hardly aware of what was going on.

Lucius turned, having knocked Narcissa to the floor, and slapped his son, who fell back against the wall, barely alive.

Please review! falls to knees Please! stands up, but has no dignity left…maybe later