Maria Hanuschak: The first half of August was spent at my estate searching for the necessary ideas for the potion. It was decided that short of discovering the spell for the Dark Mark and modifying it for use in a charmed potion, and only involving the burning aspect of it, which was our basis for understanding internal burning, we decided we would have to find something that would physically burn through from inside a person. Ashwinder eggs were my first idea, and it worked. They would need to be modified with a few spells to keep them frozen for a specific amount of time, and then need to be infused with a spell to make them burn at a higher temperature so as to keep up the flame through the organs and muscle. It was halfway through August, though, and Severus needed to return to Hogwarts for the upcoming school year. I took over most of the project. We consulted back and forth, but he was incredibly vague in his answers, or he would tell me something completely wrong. I would write back saying how whatever he had written was wrong and he would blame it on a bad day with the students. Eventually, I just worked on my own. I managed to make the potion by December. Uncle was not pleased that it was not done in October, but I brought him to the house and showed him everything I had done and he was not terribly upset by it then. The burning ingredient was indeed modified, shrunken Ashwinder eggs stirred into a potion of powdered moonstone… you have my notes? I turned those in already.

Chief Warlock Greene: The court has received the notes concerning the potion.

Maria Hanuschak: The potion part makes the person feel quite good for exactly twenty-seven hours after they take the potion, and then they are burned alive from the inside out. Uncle was very pleased. Severus asked for a finished vial of it and a copy of my notes, which I gave him. He apologized for not helping as much as he should, trouble with the first-years after all.

I was kept moderately busy by Uncle after December. Mostly I was making healing potions or veritaserum. I had no new potions to create, though I was called upon to help with some particularly nasty curses, the Icarus Curse and the Sirens' Curse along with some others. Again, you should have my notes on them already.

Chief Warlock Greene: Yes, the court has notes concerning those spells.

Maria Hanuschak: It was May when the raid at the Ministry happened. I heard about it from Mama. She wrote to me about Onco being sent to Azkaban. She wanted me to meet with Draco, he was not taking this well. I wrote my cousin, expressing my condolences and my understanding. He knew that what I wrote was true. His Uncle Antonin had gone to Azkaban after all. We met in Hogsmeade. How he got out of Hogwarts I do not know, but we met at the Hog's Head Inn where I was staying. I told the barman I was expecting a younger relation from Hogwarts and that he best let him in or there would be consequences beyond his imagination. A brief glimpse of my arm certainly made him comply quickly. He mumbled something about not having our kind in for a while, but would assist in any way he could. He never had my name. I had come in and asked for a room and when he asked for a name I said I'd pay twice the amount if he'll forget the name. He forgot the name.

Draco arrived on time though and was let in. Some of the other patrons were curious to see such a young person being allowed in, but I fetched him and everyone turned back around. I recognized a few from Durmstrang. Of course, the whispers began and glances were made. Draco was as recognizable as I was. His hair gave him away. Draco was quiet for some time before speaking.

"I want to join," he said.

"Are you sure? You're not even of age yet."

"Father is going to stay in Azkaban and there's no way I'm going to be able to not take the Mark. It's expected of me."

I sighed. "What are your reasons for taking the Mark Draco? I chose it because I want the right to keep alive what I enjoy. I lost Papa through this. Your father is in Azkaban now, too. Josef has spent a hellish life because of it all. Are you familiar with what happens to us if we get caught? Do you believe in this enough to die for it?"

He was silent then for a moment.

"Maria, I need to do this. I need to avenge everyone whom I, whom we, have lost. I want to prove that I am the man my father wants me to be." Such a lost little boy he was then, but I agreed to talk to Uncle Tom about it.

Chief Warlock Greene: You were the arranger of your cousin's taking of the Mark?

Maria Hanuschak: Yes. I was summoned a couple of days after I spoke with Draco to deliver some healing potions and I spoke with Uncle Tom about it. He agreed to it and said he would call me when it was time. I was summoned in August to the Malfoy manor. Uncle Tom, Severus, and Josef were there already. Draco did not know we were here yet. It was custom, during the second war, to not inform the takers of the Dark Mark when they were going to receive it.

"Glad to see you, Maria, this will be quite interesting," was all Uncle Tom said. We went inside the manor and Draco came down to us. We went silently to the dungeons, and Draco sat on a stone table, almost exactly like the one back home.

"Is this taking of your own free will, Draco?" Uncle Tom asked as he held Draco's hand.

"Yes."

"Do you swear loyalty to me and to our cause, Draco?"

"Yes," my cousin answered again.

"For what reasons are you joining me, Draco?"

"To avenge my father."

I saw Severus flinch when Draco stated his want of vengeance.

"Do you understand that by breaking this pact, you are subject to the penalty of death?"

"I do."

"Draco, who do you want to steady your arm?"

"Maria."

I walked to him and held his arm as he had mine. Everything else was the same. The skin and muscle being pulled back, but Draco whimpered during that. When Uncle Tom set the Mark to his bone and reattached everything, Severus moved to Draco's shoulders and Josef to his legs. Even Uncle tensed towards Draco's right arm in anticipation. Sure enough, Draco screamed in agony and began to flail. I held his arm fast, Josef had his legs, Severus his shoulders and upper body, and Uncle his other arm. Once the pain stopped, he passed out. Josef levitated him up to his room where I watched over him, cooling his fever and waiting for him to reawaken. Severus stayed as well, which was good because Draco did not awaken for two days. Severus would take nights and I the days. When Draco awoke, he was glad to see my face.

"How long have I been asleep?" he asked.

"Two days," I told him.

"And you've stayed with me all along?"

"Severus spent some time with you while I rested, but mostly I was with you."

"Thank you," he said with a faint, tired smile.

Uncle came in then, with the potion and gave its directions for use. Severus and he left then. I stayed and helped to care for Draco, who was very weak. He went to school for his sixth year shortly thereafter and I didn't hear from him until the events at the end of it. I spent that year developing strengthening potions and strong disorientation potions for Uncle. You have my notes. I kept reading as well. I was taught how to make Portkeys during this year as well. I charmed one to pull people directly to the Dark Lord, wherever he may be. He wanted me, and only me, to make those for him. I was called once, in November, for a raid of a Muggle home.

Chief Warlock Greene: Please note that this was the raid against the Boyd family.

Maria Hanuschak: So that was their name. I'm afraid we were never told the names of the people, nor were we allowed to read the names in the papers. It was a strict order to just do the job, and forget you were ever there.

Chief Warlock Greene: I will interject the names as the raids are named then. Continue on.

Maria Hanuschak: "Kill everyone inside and then destroy the home. Kaminska, you will lead. Maria, you have the Portkey to come back to me. This Portkey," he held it out, "will take you to where you must go. Have fun," was what Uncle said to us before we touched the Portkey and were gone.

We landed inside a house, right in the living room. The first person I saw was the father or at least someone in that generation. The wizard next to me yelled the Killing Curse at the mother and so I raised my wand to the father and did the same. There were six people all together; all adults, no children so my assumptions of parenting were off possibly. We gutted the house then, ransacked it completely before setting it ablaze. Nothing was left by the time we were through with it. One of the other members there, I think Kaminska, but I don't know, as we were all wearing masks, came to me and offered me the honor of releasing the Dark Mark; which I accepted.

I'll admit I did not feel guilt about the raid; about the killing. It was what needed to be done for the cause. Releasing the Dark Mark above that house was exhilarating. I had finally done something in the field for the cause. I had done something. Not just created something, I had physically acted. I see your eyes, staring at me like a monster now. Do you think if I hadn't changed my mind at some point that I would be sitting before you today? Eventually, as I will tell, I got tired of the killing. Death is not something that is always necessary. Just let me continue and you'll see what happens.