"You can use this as leverage against Duncan to gain his support. With Duncan's support, Eric, who is already tainted, won't be a rival for you. Once you're in power and have solidified your position, you can get rid of both of them," Tom advised Hacker, who was lost in thought.
This plan actually seems quite feasible!
"Moreover, you have a significant advantage, don't you?" Tom added. "Look, if you become Prime Minister, your party won't split."
Hacker: !!!
After careful consideration, Hacker realized that what Tom was saying made sense.
Suddenly, he felt excited. Why did he realize that he had a significant advantage? Then, a question arose in his mind: why did this wizard come to offer him so much help?
If you do something for someone, you'll get something in return. Hacker had never heard that saying, but it was common sense. Now he had to hear what Tom wanted.
"After I become Prime Minister, is there anything I can do to help you?" Hacker put on his glasses and looked seriously at Tom.
In the political sphere of Britain, fair trade was valued. Tom provided crucial information to Hacker, so Hacker had an obligation to do something for Tom.
"All I want is for there to be a reliable Prime Minister, someone with a sense of responsibility, courage, and who can be considered a statesman."
Tom's words left Hacker speechless. He had intended to make a witty comment to lighten the mood, something like, "Oh, the Prime Minister's office can't accommodate so many people." But he couldn't say it. Unconsciously, his eyes welled up.
Tom's words awakened his consciousness, which had been dormant and nearly extinguished for a long time. It reminded him of the aspirations he had when he first entered the political arena. How many years had passed since then? Did he still hold the same aspirations?
Suddenly, he felt guilty.
"Next, the magical world and the non-magical world could face extremely challenging challenges," Tom interrupted the silence, continuing. "People like Duncan, who are despicable insects, and people like Eric, who can't control their desires, cannot assume this responsibility."
Hearing Tom, Hacker snapped out of his melancholic mood and immediately realized something wasn't right. Why does it sound like the magical world is on the brink of a catastrophe?
"Can you explain in more detail what you mean by challenging challenges?" Hacker peered through his black glasses, scrutinizing Tom, hoping to get more information from his face.
Unfortunately, he failed. Besides his handsome face, there was no more identifiable information in Tom's expression.
Tom felt that Hacker, as the future Prime Minister, had the right to know about Lord Voldemort, so he briefly recounted the story of the two dark lords, Grindelwald and Voldemort.
It was a long conversation. When they finished talking, the tea in the teapot was already cold.
"Now I understand," said Hacker, grasping the situation. "It turns out that a dark lord may be on the verge of resurgence...".
At that moment, Hacker suddenly felt that the character of that dark lord seemed familiar to him: advocating blood supremacy, discriminating against a specific group, fond of solving problems with violence and provoking wars, the current Minister of Magic being too conciliatory with him...
That sounds familiar! A magical version of the mustached one? And if he, as the Prime Minister of Great Britain, were...
Winston Churchill!
Churchill was the politician Hacker admired the most. Now he found himself in a situation similar to that of his idol, which awakened an inexplicable sense of responsibility in him. He felt that he must bear the weight of confronting Lord Voldemort.
"With great power comes great responsibility!" Hacker placed his hand on his chest, with a sacred expression on his face. At that moment, he seemed possessed by Churchill.
"Yes, we will fight side by side with our fellow wizards until we eliminate that mad Dark Lord. On this path, success does not matter, failure is not fatal, the most valuable thing is to have the courage to move forward..."
Tom interrupted Hacker's Churchill imitation.
"I think during the Christmas holidays, you could visit Hogwarts and meet Professor Dumbledore. That will help you gain a better understanding of the magical world. However, I will need to submit a request to see if Professor Dumbledore will allow you to enter Hogwarts."
Tom wanted to take Hacker to Hogwarts so he could speak with Dumbledore. This would allow the future Prime Minister to have a more specific knowledge of the magical world rather than just a vague idea of "where people ride brooms and wave wands." This exchange would be beneficial for both parties.
Tom wasn't concerned about the consequences of introducing a Muggle to Hogwarts. It's not the first time Muggles have entered Hogwarts! Didn't Dumbledore allow Jacob to enter Hogwarts when he was fighting against Grindelwald? He even did it in front of the students!
Even in the worst-case scenario, if negotiations fail, there's always the Memory Charm. Confidentiality wouldn't be an issue as magic would ensure that Hacker keeps his mouth shut.
Even Hermione in fifth grade can use the Memory Charm. Dumbledore surely can employ more effective restriction methods. All former Prime Ministers are aware of the existence of the magical world, but none of them have disclosed false information after retiring or leaving office. The lack of written records is the best evidence.
"Hogwarts, the school of magic in the UK?" Hacker's interest was piqued. The magical, fantastic, and mysterious world was about to be revealed to him, allowing him to glimpse its true face. This was a distinction that no previous Prime Minister had ever had the honor to receive.
His appreciation for Tom suddenly increased.
"Do I need to prepare a speech or something?" According to Hacker's experience, when visiting a school, a speech is usually delivered from the stage. Being the first Muggle Prime Minister to visit Hogwarts, his speech would be historic, and he needed to take it seriously.
"It's not necessary. During the Christmas holidays, students return home, and I can't promise that I'll be able to take you there either!" Tom didn't dare to think about the consequences if Dumbledore rejected Hacker after seeing his enthusiasm.
"We'll discuss the details later. The most important thing now is to overthrow your two competitors and become Prime Minister." After discussing a bit more with Hacker, Tom disappeared with a pop using Apparition.
The first thing Tom did after leaving Hacker's house was to write a letter to Dumbledore. He needed to obtain Dumbledore's permission to allow Hacker to enter Hogwarts.