"Because your desire to help the Minister for Magic would amount to betraying the Queen and the country. Shall I count out thirty pieces of silver for you right now?" Richard asked sarcastically. "Or have you decided to betray your homeland out of the goodness of your heart?"
"I… N-no…" Hermione faltered. She stared at Richard with a lost, bewildered expression. "I don't want to betray my country… I would never do that. How could you even think such a thing?"
"Oh, really?" Richard smirked ironically. "Then tell me—who in our country has access to radioactive substances?"
"Well…" Granger thoughtfully began winding a strand of her long hair around her index finger. "Nuclear physicists, I suppose… and probably some other people…"
"Or Her Majesty's Secret Service. Or perhaps Fudge was attempting to infiltrate a facility dealing with such materials for some unknown purpose, which would be even worse," Richard hinted. "And that, in turn, means Minister Fudge somehow posed a threat to the country or to the Queen. Do you understand? And yet you want to save a scoundrel who turned against his own homeland simply because he's a wizard and considers himself above ordinary people."
"Oh my God…"
Realisation dawned across Hermione's face. She suddenly understood that things were far more complicated than they appeared at first glance.
"Richie, I won't tell anyone!" she said sincerely.
"I should hope not. You're not stupid, after all. Just, Hermione, try to think first and act afterwards from now on. And decide what sort of life you wish to tie yourself to in the future. The wizarding world, filled with racism towards ordinary people and Muggle-born wizards alike? A world of miserable wages and no real prospects for advancement? Or the world of ordinary people, where you can receive an excellent education, graduate from Oxford or another equally prestigious institution, and then, through the patronage of a friend sitting in the House of Lords, build a brilliant career in government while earning an extremely respectable salary. Think very carefully, Hermione. You still have time before you finish Hogwarts."
Hermione Granger had never sunk so deeply into thought before. Richard's words forced her to reflect seriously upon her future.
Until now, she had viewed the wizarding world as a fairy tale, yet the rose-coloured lenses were gradually beginning to crack. The troll in the girls' lavatory had started it. Or perhaps not. Perhaps it had all begun with tea at the Queen's residence. That had truly felt like a fairy tale. Both attending a reception hosted by the Queen and finding herself at Hogwarts had once seemed equally impossible and magical.
Richie did not interrupt the girl's thoughts. Instead, he continued reading the newspaper. Near the back pages he found a small article.
The Wizengamot has delivered its verdict in the case of Mister Dylan MacDougal and Mister Caleb Sonder. We remind our readers that these two wizards were employed at the Grosvenor Workshop. They were caught stealing from their employer. The court has sentenced Mister MacDougal to six months in Azkaban, while Mister Sonder has received a sentence of one year.
Richard's mood rose sharply at once. It was difficult to describe the sensation experienced by someone whose revenge had succeeded and whose looming problem—in the form of a vengeful wizard wielding authority—had finally ceased to hang over his head.
Happiness? Hardly.
Exhilaration? Quite possibly.
Satisfaction? Most certainly.
It was an entire cocktail of emotions. On the one hand, he was rejoicing in another person's misfortune, yet on the other, he understood that justice had been done, and that a man who had once acted wrongly had finally answered for his deeds.
As the steam locomotive approached the final station, Hermione emerged from her thoughts.
"Richie," she said quietly, "do you truly want to help me build a career in government?"
"Yes."
"But why?" Hermione asked, genuine confusion in her voice.
"Why not?"
Richard shrugged, though he noticed the girl watching him intently, clearly expecting a more detailed explanation. So he elaborated.
"Hermione, every politician needs a team. People to whom he can entrust both his back and his purse. People who will not betray him and who will stand beside him no matter what—whether he is right or wrong. A team, Hermione! When a politician rises, he drags his people upward with him. And just as an official can trust his own people, they, in turn, can trust in their support behind the scenes. They know they won't be abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Instead, they'll be pulled upward together with him. But for that to work, everyone has to give their all—the leader and his subordinates alike."
"So, if I understand correctly," Hermione began carefully, "as the heir to a noble title, you're expected to take a seat in the House of Lords?"
"Yes, Hermione. And that seat also opens the path to high-ranking government positions—even all the way up to Minister. And don't forget that I already own a very respectable business. Even now, my personal fortune, without taking my father's wealth into account, makes me a multimillionaire. In the future, I'll be moving billions. And everywhere, I'll need my own people. Stay close to me. I ask for very little—only loyalty. In return, I'll give a great deal. Do you want to become an assistant minister? The director of an international corporation? Hermione, it's all in your hands. That is the summit of life—not rotting away in a reservation for wizards."
(End of Chapter)
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