December 13th, 1888

As it comes upon the holidays, I thoughtfully look back on ones I have celebrated before. Especially with fondness, I remember the first one I had with my sister Penelope. It was the first time I had celebrated with a sister, and I did not know it at the time. But also with my whole family which is very nice.

It was Christmas 1855. My sister was a very small baby and my young brother Timothy was just getting to be that age where one could actually play with him. I had high hopes that my mother would invite my friends over, but she had just wanted family Christmas. Maybe she did not want to be alone with my sister, baby, for so long? I have yet to meet a baby that has an enjoyable disposition, or who seems anything less than mortified by the lights at the Christmas. It always seemed like Penelope would need to be protected by my brother and I, I admit that at the time I rather have play outside.

Presents were wrapped under the Christmas tree. My mother, she is one who loves muggle traditions at Christmas. She has many decorations on the tree, they are nice, instead my brother and I, we want to open presents. We did not have a lot. But we did not pay for school so we had more money than when we were. I do despise the way my mother would work much because she wished to pay. The times my sister would be alone.

But Christmas was happy. My brother got training broom. Used, but it was paint red. He liked it. I was given a toy train. It was supposed to move by itself but enchantment had worn off long time. It was a very very happy time. Later I would play with my friends. I have not spoken to them for a long time. Maybe I will send something for Christmas.

  

December 20th, 1888

It's been few days since I last wrote. I have been busy. I have organized a few investigations, gone through a few papers, and regrettably had to deal with Mr. Snagg yet again. I have no idea how he's qualified to be even a trainee, but his grades and commitment, however stubborn, do seem to help him a lot.

It is almost the new year. I will no longer have to write out three eights in a row anymore, though I suppose I will be writing two for until next year. I hope that I can establish myself more this year. I wish to be a Head of Department that goes down in history, and for good reasons. Recently I have begun to discuss with a Miss Davis the possibility of finding her brother, though I doubt that he is still alive as the case is over 10 years old. I do hope I will be able to bring his killers to justice, though I am certain young Miss Davis will be crushed. She does seem to care much for him.

I have bought gifts for my parents, and though it seems odd, I have bumped into quite a few people in the past days. I hope that next year is sunnier, or that I figure out a way to have more luck when it comes to this sort of thing. Perhaps I will invent an anti-slip spell.

  

December 25th, 1888

It is my first true Christmas as head of department. It is odd, not spending it with my lawyer friends, but here I am. It's been helpful to keep track of these things, but technically it isn't my first Christmas. I was only Head for a few days last year, though, so I suspect this is what may be called my first Christmas as Head of department. And as I am here, looking down from such a high position, I'm reminded of where I was in yesteryears. My status as one of the poor lawyers often meant I was excluded, but it is much different now. I have, to quote and old saying, a finger in every pie. There's always something going on. It is quite nice.

But during the holidays I am also reminded of my family and my roots, and I wonder if I have strayed too far. It is frowned upon, I know, to work hard enough that your whole social circles change, but I never saw anything wrong with it. Perhaps if I start some sort of event where I give away all my galleons once a year it will be less frowned upon. But hah! I doubt it. Most are stuck in their ways, and I am like them. Does this mean I am doomed to forever live almost inside of the Ministry? It is, in the very least, doubtful. When I grow too old they'll get rid of me.

Is it wrong to fear becoming old at this age? My friends, they all are getting married, or having children. I guess it's my worry that it isn't for me, but there's worse things than never getting married. I sent my nieces and nephews presents, and I hope they are happy with them.

  

January 1st, 1889

It is New Year's. A time to celebrate what has passed and plan for what is new. A time for one to look at oneself and say, am I truly pleased with who I am now? What can I do to change myself for the better? And this year, honestly, I would like to do what I can to make myself the best I can be. This is always what I am wanting, but I'm not ever certain how I'm supposed to go about doing it. I think this year, I know one way. I will get out this season, speak to some eligible debutantes. That's what my mother(and the papers, I suspect, especially that Witch Weekly) would like me to do. And I do admit that I have met at least one young woman I would be interested in pursuing, but I doubt she would care for me.

Oh, how ironic that the matchmaker seems to have missed me. I suppose my next goal would be to become Minister of Magic, but I strongly doubt that it happens anytime soon, unless there's some hidden plot to kill the Minister that I don't know about, or we have a system entirely different than what I expect.

This year, I want to donate a portion of my money to a working class family, one that lives in the Slums and is about to send their children to Hogwarts. My nieces and nephews already receive the aid, and since I only hire one servant, I still have enough to support others. My only worries is that I will not be able to help everyone who needs it. OWLs can be very helpful to starting off in a good career, and not enough children from the more poor side of the country can get them. I'm thankful that Hogwarts' scholarships allowed me to take my OWLs, otherwise I most likely would not be where I am today.

Yes, that is an excellent resolution. I will help a family get their children to their OWLs.