24th of July, 1993 at the Malfoy Manor, England

Callisto Malfoy could easily be called a prodigy. O's in all O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's, quite an achievement since it was the first time it happened again since Minerva McGonnagal attended Hogwarts. Not only had her school career been filled with academic achievement, the young woman had also been Prefect and Head Girl, during her years there. Wealthy, intelligent and beautiful, she was often both envied and idolized by her peers. As she often would remind her younger brother ''Everything comes with a price..'' Naturally Callisto had been sorted into Slytherin House, where she had thrived socially, more due to a sense of duty, than from a genuine desire to be sociable. Therefore the first born Malfoy could often be found in the library, even after hours, with a steaming cup of tea, muttering to herself whilst jotting down her notes, whilst being surrounded by various scraps of parchment, when having to write essays. She had always enjoyed the solitude of those late hours, the smell of the old books and parchments, her mind dancing somewhere between all those sentences that formed ideas. She valued knowledge above all else, learning new languages in her spare time, if she had any. In the opinion of her professors she was set to become Minister for Magic and so she applied for a job at the ministry after graduating top of her class.
She became the youngest ministry official since all time, to become an ambassador to the International Confederation of Wizards, which caused her to receive the Order of Merlin, Second Class at a mere 21 years. A prodigy indeed, even surpassing her father in importance within the ministry, only three years after graduating Hogwarts.

''Crispus Selwyn'' Lucius Malfoy stated matter-of-factly, looking his daughter straight in the eye.

''A good match, very wealthy family, pure-blood of course. It would be a grand wedding and he is the best candidate.'' Narcissa Malfoy added.

''I am about to receive an Order of Merlin and you want me to marry thát half-wit?'' Callisto fumed towards the both of them, feeling no need for any sense of decorum or poise at the moment.

''It was never really your choice to make, now was it?'' Lucius answered, raising an eyebrow. ''And I will not having you speak that way to us, especially not your mother.'' He added and continued to eat. Draco Malfoy had his eyes trained on his plate, as if the steak on it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. His sister on the other hand gave both her parents livid looks. She had not expected this upon her short return home, after spending a year in Japan, serving as an ambassador for the British Ministry at the International Confederation of Wizards.

''I will have a luncheon with his mother soon, so we can discuss dates and the like. Next year after your return from Eastern Europe would be ideal, since you will be staying the year then.'' Narcissa thought oud loud.

''Father, you cannot tell me there is not a better match out there?'' The young woman pleaded.

''It has been discussed and arranged. That means the decision is final, you will not have to deal with him that much, seeing as you will be staying home and he will be at the ministry.'' Lucius answered his daughter stoically.

Draco eyes his older sister wearily, as her eyes seemed to be about to pop out of her head at his father's answer. Quickly enough, she composed herself, her face void of any emotion as she answered her father, with the only answer she knew that would make his blood run cold.

''What would aunt Bella have to say about this?''

30th of July, 1993, at the Ministry for Magic in London, England

Receiving the order of Merlin is quite a pompous affair, the whole wizarding community ''that means something'' attends. After a heated argument with both her parents Callisto understood that there was no escaping her future as Mrs. Selwyn. It would not do well to her appearance to make a public debacle out of the whole affair and at least the man was stupid enough to keep under her thumb. She was, after all, a Malfoy and would not subject to the whims of a half-wit.
''Everything comes with a price..'' she mumbled to herself whilst putting on her emerald coloured slippers. The sentence had become a personal mantra to the young woman, reminding her of the duty she had to her family, more than anything else. Before considering to jinx her future fiancé one last time, she apparated to the manor's lavish entrance hall.
''You should have let Malkin take those robes in Callisto..'' Narcissa sighed while tugging her sleeves slightly.
''Mother, enough. I am nearing my twenty second birthday, can you stop this for once?'' The girl scowled at the older woman.

''We're late.'' Narcissa stated and stepped into the fire place.

The women flood to the Ministry for Magic's central hall, where the ceremony was to take place. Upon entering the large space the both of them were greeted by a wizard clad in black robes.

''Severus'' Narcissa stated coldly, upon which the wizard just nodded and turned to the younger witch, who gave him a small smile.

''Professor, how nice of you to come.'' Callisto greeted her old potions professor.

''Well, I still think you should have continued studying in my field. Instead of for this, abysmal, organization.'' Professor Snape sneered, causing the young ambassador to flash him a bright smile.

''I do miss that sense of humour.'' She commented, what made, who was standing next to her, Narcissa pinch her hard in the side. Something she would do when the Malfoy heiress was still a child, a way to correct her behaviour without having to say anything. It was safe to say that, even though the young Malfoy was an exemplary student, she was less of an exemplary Malfoy. The girl had always had troubles with adapting to the rules of pureblood society. Not because she did not understand, but merely she personally could not care less. For a result of all that studying, was a chain of epiphanies. It starting with doubting the ways in which her family and those around her thought about the term ''pureblood'' and the implications it had. Her whole school career had been full of all sorts of revelations, as she started to read muggle fiction and non-fiction together with wizarding literature and scholarship. Notions of feminism, equality and the diversity of cultures there existed became more and more clear to her. All this equated to a new consciousness, one in which she would rather identify herself with being Callisto, more than Malfoy.

2nd of August, 1993, at the Ministry for Magic in London, England

''What can I help you with Ludo?'' Callisto asked without looking up from the parchment she was reading.

''Well, I have come to inform you on what the reason is for your placement to Eastern Europe, more specifically Romania!'' Ludo Bagman, head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports exclaimed with childish glee. Causing Callisto to raise an eyebrow whilst looking up at the man. He was dressed in bright yellow robes, which clashed horribly with his hair and which made his skin look pasty. The grown man seemed to be bursting from excitement, as he hopped from foot to foot in the ambassador's office.

''Impress me.'' Callisto sighed as she put down the parchment.

''Dragons!''