En the United Kingdom, who keeps it running? The royal family, the prime minister, or the cabinet? None of them; it's the countless civil servants who keep this ancient empire running, allowing this old carriage, almost in ruins, to continue moving slowly but steadily downhill.
They can't change the fact that the carriage is going downhill, but they can make the people inside the carriage feel extremely comfortable. As they say, in a cheerful atmosphere, one can utter "Game Over." Hundreds of thousands of civil servants "sacrifice" in silence during the Christmas holidays to ensure that government departments run smoothly. But since they must assume such enormous power, they always have to sacrifice something, like their holidays.
During the Christmas holidays, civil servants certainly can't rest. On the contrary, they are even busier because all those incompetent ministers with extravagant ideas are on vacation, and the leash around the civil servants' necks loosens briefly. Competent civil servants who seize the opportunity are working overtime to handle political matters that are usually inconvenient to manage.
The leader of the civil servants is, of course, no exception. While Hacker was visiting Hogwarts, his secretary, Sir Humphrey, and the cabinet secretary, Sir Arnold, were having a small meeting. These two men are at the top and second in the food chain of the British administrative system.
Sir Arnold, the cabinet secretary, is in a sense the most powerful person in the entire country. He is the prime minister's permanent secretary, controls the cabinet's agenda, and has everything under his control in the UK, and even in the magical world, his relationship is unclear.
But even a person like him has a retirement day.
Today, Sir Arnold invited Sir Humphrey to his office for a chat. The conversation was going well, and Sir Arnold naturally approached a side table and served them both a drink.
"By the way, Humphrey, I've decided to retire early." Sir Arnold said as he poured the drink, as if he were talking about a routine matter, even the amount of alcohol in the glass hadn't changed.
"Really, Arnold?" Humphrey couldn't be so calm; his voice trembled at the news.
Sir Arnold sensed the change in his subordinate's mood.
"It was on New Year's Day," Arnold said as he handed Humphrey a glass of wine. Holding his own glass, he continued, "My successor must have a firm stance towards politicians, as well as strategic ability, be kind, charming, and experienced... especially, they must be reliable."
As he spoke, Arnold sat down in an armchair. Each time he said something, Humphrey nodded beside him.
"Therefore, I have the responsibility to recommend someone as the permanent secretary who fully meets these conditions."
In the face of Arnold's crazy insinuations, Humphrey received them all. He felt that this candidate was like a replica of himself. He got very excited, and his eyes shone.
"Well, you... um... do you have...?" Humphrey, as eloquent as he was, began to stutter.
"You see, the true essence of this business doesn't lie in finding the right answer but in finding the right question and seeing who can discover the key question." With his black-framed glasses, Arnold always had a carefree appearance. The words he spoke were always evasive, but to Humphrey's ears, Arnold's meaning was quite clear: whoever can help me solve the key question will be the next cabinet secretary.
Arnold took a sip of his drink and then began his performance.
"By the way, Arnold, let's change the subject. What plans do you have after retiring?" The change of subject was abrupt but very effective.
After Humphrey uttered that sentence, it was clearly visible that Arnold's mood became visibly cheerful, and his gaze toward Humphrey also contained a hint of approval. He began to speak animatedly about his plans for retirement.
"Chairman of Western Bank, IBM, British Petroleum, Chairman of the Royal Theatre Foundation... all of that will have to wait until next year. Honorary Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Vice Chairman of the Bank of England, that might be a bit challenging... but you've always liked challenges... finally, President of the British Caribbean Association, an opportunity to benefit the public, especially in the winter."
"Exactly," Arnold was very pleased. Humphrey was indeed the chosen candidate, and he had arranged his retirement life impeccably.
After finalizing the negotiations for the promised position, the two began to discuss confidentiality aspects. Humphrey assured Arnold that some documents related to him would be carefully stored and protected.
Who doesn't have a dark past? Having a dark past didn't matter as long as it didn't come to light while one was alive.
"I can finally be at ease. Well, getting back to what we were talking about, both my colleagues and I agree that you are the first and only candidate for the cabinet secretary position," Arnold said with complete composure, as if the previous negotiation had never happened.
Humphrey displayed a joyful smile, one that became even more radiant upon learning that he was the sole candidate.
After sealing the deal, Arnold and Humphrey raised their glasses and drank in one gulp. At that moment, Sir Arnold seemed to remember an insignificant matter.
"Oh, by the way, since you are now the only and primary candidate for the cabinet secretary position, I believe I should introduce you to someone ahead of time. It would be good for you and for the entire administrative team. This person and the power behind them are very important, but only the cabinet secretary should be aware of their existence. Do you have time now?"
Humphrey's expression turned serious. He knew his boss too well. The more important the matter, the later he left it, and the more relaxed and casual his tone, the more significant and less relaxed the matter would be.
He adjusted his posture and said, "Arnold, of course, I have time. Who should we meet?"
Arnold glanced at his watch. "No rush, there's still a quarter of an hour. As for the person we should meet, they are a wizard."
Humphrey: ...
He felt like something was off between his ears and Arnold's mind. A wizard? He hadn't believed in wizards since he was three years old!
"After a hectic day, it's certainly good to hear a joke to relax."
Arnold looked at Humphrey with a cold, relentless gaze. Under Arnold's threatening gaze, Humphrey obediently closed his mouth.
"I'm not joking. This is a secret passed down from generation to generation among the cabinet secretaries."
Humphrey was already considering whether he could successfully become the cabinet secretary after having Arnold committed to an asylum.
Arnold was cunning and experienced. How could he not notice Humphrey's subtleties? But he didn't bother explaining; he simply sat silently in his seat, waiting for the agreed-upon moment to arrive.
Time passed quickly. Suddenly, the flames in Arnold's office fireplace began to burn intensely and turned into a green fire that reached the height of a person.
A figure emerged from the flames.
"Allow me to introduce you to Lucius Malfoy, hailing from the magical world."