Lilith did her best to keep up with the guard, Peter, as he led the way up the winding staircase at a good jog. She was in good shape but much shorter in stature and was a turn or two behind Peter at all times, not that he noticed. He seemed to be in quite a hurry to get the tour over with, pass her off to the other guards and return to the "normals" as he called them. Lilith let out a huff of exertion when she finally caught up to the guard, who looked very put out at having to wait. Perhaps it was more though, nervousness?

"You do know what lies down this corridor, don't you?" he asked, putting an arm across the open door.

"Seven patients." she replied firmly.

Peter rolled his eyes but removed the arm to allow her entry. Not just seven patients, seven DeathEaters, with room enough for three more should they need. Seven of the most fearsome and unruly men alive, or so she was told. They loathed anyone not on their side in the magical community and took every opportunity to show it despite being locked away. That's why the aurors had chosen Lilith, brought her over from the states even, needing an unbiased and gentile touch. Though she knew little to nothing about the wizard wars Lilith had been informed of just how cutthroat the men were, evil was the word they'd used. But she also knew that because of their dispositions, as well as hostilities from supporters of the Light the men had become severely neglected. Most of the overseers at Azkaban would have been happy to just lock the door to the fifth floor and let the men rot but Lilith firmly believed in second chances. Everyone deserved to be cared for, they were still human.

"Where's your wand?" Peter demanded as they walked the dreary stretch towards the cells.

Dreary was an understatement. The medi-witch frowned at the oppressiveness of the dank brick walls surrounding them. It was darker than Lilith had imagined, lending a much more depressive feeling than necessary and she wondered if it was to keep them subdued.

"In my office."

She hadn't brought it, the guards would have theirs and seeing her with one may ruin any chance she had of gaining her patients' trust. She had been told by one of the aurors, admitted 'just between us', that she suspected some of the men may have been coerced or were downright not guilty. One of Lilith's duties was to try and weed those men out so they could be given a proper chance at trial. Following the war, Miss Granger had said, anyone with the mark of a DeathEater had been unceremoniously dumped into the island prison. Most of the men were lacking in care because of abuse and distrust on their end, which likely stemmed from the abuse.

"You have been briefed on your "patients", haven't you?" he demanded, light blonde brows raised incredulously. The word patients had come out with a slight laugh.

Peter had tried to hide his contempt towards her niativity but couldn't help himself. Either they hadn't told her everything or she was flat out stupid.

"I have." she replied, trying not to show her irritation. "It'll be safer if I don't have a wand for anyone to try and steal." that was also true but it was mainly about trust.

Peter nodded, seeming to accept her reasoning, eyes no longer drilling into her like she was an imbecile.

Lilith avoided eye contact on her first trip down the main aisle of the maximum security floor but she could feel the weights of their stares. Out of her peripheral vision she could see the men rising to their feet, wrapping their hands around the bars and following her with their eyes. She was grateful for how quiet they were being as her nerves were on edge after hearing about the "incidents" with previous medi-witches, from not just one but many sources. Her bravado with the guard was nothing short of forced. A small part of her wondered if the DeathEaters were already plotting. This job would be the most difficult task she'd ever taken on, no question, but Lilith had dedicated herself to it and there was no turning back.

The guard led her down the row and to the left where they encountered a dead end with two doors. One was marked 'Guard Station' the other 'Showers' on tarnished gold name plates. Peter stepped briskly into the guard station where two men in black uniforms sat playing cards at a beat up wooden table. They jumped to their feet when Peter cleared his throat, briefly saluting him before turning their attention to Lilith.

"Lilith this is Longbottom and Erons. Gentlemen this is Lilith, your new medi-witch."

Both men looked surprised, though they tried to hide it, as they looked her over from head to toe. Their thoughts were plain as day though, they figured she was going to get eaten alive. Neither said a word though, what was one more medi-witch down the drain?

"Gentlemen." she greeted and nodded to their mumbled 'ello's'.

"Well I'll leave you to it then." Peter said with a curt nod and vanished.

He'd given her fair warning, as he had with the others, and would try no more.

"Let's get this over with." Erons said with a deep sigh as Longbottom retook his seat. "I'll show you around, point out the men. I understand that you'll start your rounds tomorrow then?"

She couldn't tell if he was annoyed at having to show yet another person around or simply loathe to be in the company of the prisoners.

"Yes." she agreed, trying to distance herself from the negativity pouring off his person in order to keep herself calm. "They wanted to give the men a chance to get used to a new person."

Erons snorted, hands clasped behind his back and gave her a little eye roll to signify his superiors were idiots.

"Time to get ideas into their heads anyway. Follow me."

Erons was a tall, thin man with a shiny black wand strapped firmly on his left hip. He wore an air of superiority, not necessarily towards herself or the men but to life in general. He led her back down to the right and into the column of still silent prisoners, every single one now pressed against the bars.

"In order, Fenrir Greyback on the left, Antonin Dolohov on the right, Thorfinn Rowle, left, Lucian Malfoy, right, Rabastan Lestrange left, Rodolphus Lestrange, right, Draco Malfoy, left. Men this is your new medi-witch Miss Anders."

Lilith's heart raced wildly as the DeathEaters watched her with varying mixtures of malice, disgust and lust. Still she forced herself to meet their eyes as Erons hastily led her down the line. Several of the men tried to stick their arms out to touch her but the guard had kept her firmly in the middle, unreachable, to their dismay. Despite the conditions they were large, muscular men, alert and seemingly ready to pounce. And that's when the real fear hit the young witch like a snake slithering up her spine.

Had she traveled halfway across the world to be eaten alive?