Minerva wavered between dreamland and waking. She was conscious enough to feel the pain, exhaustion, confusion, and fear; but not to do anything about it. She could hear the sounds of people talking, and could feel a bed beneath her, but she could see nothing. Panic engulfed her, and she found herself teetering towards awakening. Minerva found she had control over her body and slowly blinked her eyes open, only to squeeze them shut against the blinding light.
"She's awake!" The loud voice was shrill and pounded against Minerva's head. She opened her eyes to place the voice to Poppy; uncharacteristically. Another face entered her vision, and his voice was considerably deeper.
"How are you feeling, Minerva?" Albus asked.
Minerva moaned in response, too confused to use words. Her eyes drifted closed, but she still followed the conversation.
"She will live?" Minerva's eyes flew open and she forced her voice to work.
"Live? Albus, what happened?"
"I don' know, my dear. We were hoping you could tell us."
Minerva weakly closed her eyes. Distorted images flashed across her closed lids, but few of them made sense. She shook her head and opened her eyes to meet Albus'.
"I'm afraid I won't be much help," she felt pressure on her hand and tilted her head down to see Albus held it between his two.
"When you are stronger, I must ask permission to view your memories. I wouldn't if I didn't have to, you know that, Minerva," he squeezed her hand again and gave an apologetic shrug. "The Ministry as of yet do not know you are injured. Nor does most of the school."
Minerva returned her eyes to Albus' face before she replied. "What's injured?" All she knew was her entire body hurt, but she couldn't distinguish any one thing aside from her head. Albus called to Poppy and she hurried over, her expression brightening and darkening simultaneously when she saw the Transfiguration professor.
"You're going to be in pain for awhile, Minerva. I want you confined to a bed for at least two weeks. Even after that I don't want you to return to teaching." Minerva felt her heart drop as Poppy brushed her other hand. "I'm sorry, dear. I hate to do this to you, but I want you to recover fully."
"Recover from what?" Minerva had patience, she worked with children all day, but she wanted to know what was wrong with her.
"You're scratched and bruised most everywhere, and you had a few broken ribs, as well as a few bones in your arm and leg," Minerva cringed as she listened to Poppy.
"Then why confine me to bed?"
"I want to make sure you're well. And I'm worried about internal problems. Things potions won't cure, that only time and rest can cure."
Poppy left and Minerva rolled her head to the other side, not wishing to see the desperate look in her friend's eyes. She lay there silently, trying to sort through her thoughts as potions and pain raged through her body. She felt Albus next to her, and the friendly circles he drew on her hand. She looked down at her arms and hands to see them scratched and bruised. A few of her nails were chipped and uneven. It looked like she had attacked something. After awhile Poppy returned and insisted that the headmaster leave so Minerva could rest. A few moments after he left, the witch gave Minerva a Drought of Dreamless Sleep. She fought it at first, not wishing to sleep, but eventually the potion worked itself into her bloodstream and she fell asleep anyway.