A/N: Sorry if this chapter is rather boring, but some of this stuff needed to be said in order for the rest of the story to make sense. Hopefully next chapter will be more interesting.

A/N 2: Sorry that I haven't updated in a while – I got super caught up in school (as per usual) and I've been putting a lot of thought into this story. I've made some changes that aren't really major for how far I got in the actual writing of the story, but they do mean some pretty big changes for Mina and also result in the need to edit some chapters. There aren't many changes in this chapter, and there will also be changes for Chapters Five, Six, Seven, and Eight, though the changes in Chapter Eight are mostly grammatical and not very plot-oriented. There are no changes in the first two chapters or the fourth chapter. Apologies for inconveniences (of which I know there are likely many) and thank you to those who will continue to read this story. I will hopefully update with a real chapter soon, but I can't make any promises.

Severus stared at the young girl before him. Never before had he ever seen a victim of the Death Eaters fall so far. It was a bloody miracle she was still alive, in his opinion, even taking into account the fact that she was a witch. Clearly, she was a damn powerful one, too.

Mina Evans was clearly someone to be contended with.

While Albus and Minerva rushed off to find Poppy, he began some simple Diagnostic Charms that would tell them the extent of the damage and a few various cleaning spells to reveal where the injuries truly were rather than where all the blood had ended up. Unfortunately, the various cleaning spells did little to help. The sheer number of injuries covering Mina's body was astounding, so when Severus removed the excess blood, it was revealed that much of the blood was not, in point of fact, excess, but rather that of the wounds themselves.

Not entirely sure he wanted to see it, Severus looked at the Diagnostic Sheet next to him. The quill was still scratching away in his cramped script and the sheet was already longer than his entire arm, making a cold iron fist clamp around his insides. He hoped that most of them were psychological injuries – too many physical injuries would make her difficult to treat as many spells and potions did not work in conjunction with each other.

First on the list were the alterations in her anatomy and genetic make-up. Most people didn't have many of these, if any at all, but they often revealed allergies and special abilities, such as the Sight and the ability to see auras. Severus was astounded to see that Mina's list of alterations was rather long.

Must have a lot of allergies, he thought as he began to read.

He quickly realized that he was wrong.

Alterations of Anatomy:

Minor sulfa allergy

Wolfchild

Animi Speaker

What the hell? thought Severus. What in Merlin's name is an animi speaker?

He did, however, know what a wolfchild was. Wolfchildren were children of werewolves. He had been expecting this, but it still came as somewhat of a shock that a wolfchild was lying in front of him, bloodied and unconscious. They were said to be ferocious fighters, like their parents, but unlike their sires, they only fought when threatened. They retained their minds when they transformed and their wolf states were less grotesque than that of their parents; rather, it was more like an oversized wolf. They were forced to change on the full moon, but were also capable of shifting at other times as well, though it was rather taxing. Surprisingly enough, werewolf venom was poisonous to the wolfchildren.

Poppy, Minerva, and Albus returned and he quickly read through the rest of the sheet.

Physical Injuries:

Multiple lacerations to back, legs, and rear (most likely belt or switch)

Multiple stab wounds to arms, back, legs, chest, and stomach

Collapsed lung

Four concussions

Two broken femurs

Two broken tibias

Broken left fibula

Shattered right metacarpals

Shattered nasal bone

Broken right clavicle

Eight broken ribs

Broken left humerus

Three broken vertebrae

Two broken ulnas

Broken right radius

Broken pelvis

Shattered right patella

Shattered left metatarsals

Third degree burns on back

Second degree burns on legs and face

First degree burns on arms and chest

Evidence of starvation

Evidence of dehydration

Evidence of rape

Evidence of sexual assault

Evidence of asphyxiation (bruising to larynx)

Evidence of electrocution

Two missing toes (severed)

Bruises covering entire body

Nerve damage from various sources, including hanging by limbs and Cruciatus Curse

Evidence of consumption of potassium hydroxide and inhalation of ammonia, though treatment was provided prior to death

Internal bleeding

Psychological Injuries:

Posttraumatic stress disorder

Evidence of mock executions

Hyperarousal

Depression

Damaged self-concept

Foreshortened future

Sexual dysfunction

Psychosis

"Merlin," Severus whispered.

"What?" Poppy asked. She reached for the diagnostic sheet and Severus handed it to her.

"She'll be lucky to survive the night," he told her. He summoned several potions and gently poured them down Mina's throat, massaging it gently to get the potions down, hyperaware that her larynx was already bruised. The potions he had administered would not come in conflict with each other and dealt with the worst of the injuries, including a Pain Potion, a Lung Stabilizer, a Contraceptive Concoction, a Nutritive Potion, and a Blood Thickener that would hopefully stop the immediate bleeding, both external and internal. He also shoved a bezoar down her throat to counteract the various poisons, all of which were, thankfully, rather simple and quickly began casting some basic healing spells he knew in an attempt to remedy most of the broken bones, namely the vertebrae and pelvis. Poppy gasped beside him as she finished reading the Diagnostic Sheet and quickly moved to stand across from Severus, glancing at the potions he'd already administered and recognizing the spells he was casting. She began to work on Mina's various burns, applying a heavy-duty burn salve to her back with magic and carefully rubbing in a less potent salve on her face, arms, and legs. Minerva and Albus quickly took control of the Diagnostic Sheet, thoroughly interested in what had Severus and Poppy so desperate. By the time they were done reading through it, Poppy and Severus had addressed the worst of the injuries and had really done all they could without administering potions and casting spells that would come in conflict with each other. Exhausted, they both conjured chairs and settled down in them, keeping their eyes on Mina.

"Will she make it?" Minerva asked after a long silence. There was another long silence.

"I don't know," Poppy whispered. "I just don't know."

"She's lasted this long," said Albus optimistically. "She can last."

"That's what you think," Severus hissed through his teeth. "But these injuries, both physical and psychological, are horrible. Who knows what the Death Eaters were telling her to justify their actions? She may very well believe that she is a monster. She may very well believe that what was done to her was right. She may very well believe that she will be hurt because we're attempting to help her. She may very well have lost the will to even live, Albus. And if she has, she won't last till morning."

"So she has to make it till morning?" Minerva asked after another awkward silence. Poppy nodded stiffly and the silence began to stifle them once more.

Eventually, it became too awkward for Albus and he retreated to his office. Minerva followed soon after to make sure he didn't do anything stupid like report this to the Ministry of Magic. Poppy stayed, but the amount of magic she had performed had been rather drastic and she eventually fell into a deep slumber. Only Severus retained consciousness. He wanted to be there when she awoke, and he had no idea when that was going to be, but he was going to be there. He had to be there. He would have been there for Lily.

Now he needed to be there for Mina.

A/N: Sorry if this chapter was horrible. For anyone who's wondering, sulfa allergies are actually quite common; about half the population of the world is allergic to sulfa, a common ingredient in various drugs, especially those used to treat UTI's. Admittedly, the only reason I know about it is because I have it. Anyway, review please!