Chapter 166: Eddie Butler

Sherlock Forester stood unwavering, utilizing his magic to unlatch the door to the hotel room. His eyes twinkled with a touch of amusement as he watched the dark-haired lad stride in. "I can't help but wonder," he said, "why you chose not to flee during the commotion. And more importantly, why you're back here, seeking me."

"Eddie", as Sherlock believed he was called, had a clear chance to disappear amidst the turmoil. It was peculiar that he, who had been deliberately avoiding both Aurors and Death Eaters while making his way northwest to an unknown destination, would no choose to make a detour to find him.  This unexpected action stirred Sherlock's curiosity.

Instead of responding to Sherlock's probing, the ebony-maned youth fixed his gaze on a point on Sherlock's chest while he simultaneously inquired, "Have you met a little girl named Amy?"

Sherlock's eyes narrowed slightly. Trailing the young man's line of sight, he noted that ever since Eddie had entered the room, the latter had been fixated on the amulet Amy had entrusted to him prior to their parting. He temporarily froze, puzzled, before piecing together the probabilities swiftly. "You wouldn't happen to be Eddie Butler, would you?" Sherlock asked, his voice imbued with authority.

The dark-haired lad was visibly taken aback by Sherlock's assumption, "Did Amy tell you my name?" Eddie queried in return, indirectly acknowledging Sherlock's speculation was accurate.

"No, quite the contrary," Sherlock explained, "I was merely aware that the Ministry of Magic is in pursuit of a wizard named Eddie, and the Death Eaters are likewise on the hunt for one known as Butler. From your actions it can be safely assumed that you're the man both parties are seeking."

Staring at Sherlock, Eddie was momentarily flabbergasted before he shook his head with a bitter smile, "Amy really has a talent for finding extraordinary people.."

Without missing a beat, he asked earnestly, "How is Amy? Did she ask you to come here?"

Sherlock, shaking his head, responded, "I'm here primarily for other engagements. I didn't anticipate encountering you at all. Please rest assured, though, Amy remains in the security of The Leaky Cauldron, an associate of mine is keeping an eye on her."

Seeing Sherlock's assurance, Eddie seemed to relax a bit before he transformed into a serious demeanor, "I know we've just met, but I'm afraid I have to ask you for a favor."

Sherlock regarded Eddie with an incredulous expression, "A minute ago we didn't even know each other, in fact you still don't know my name - I can't possibly be the best candidate for this favor, can I?"

Eddie quickly rejoined, "Oh it doesn't really matter whether I know you or not, what's important is that Amy trusted you enough to give you that amulet."

Under typical scenarios, this line of reasoning would hardly hold up. However, given Amy's exceptional talent, a father trusting her instincts wasn't too far-fetched, noteworthy as the fact that she hadn't yet celebrated her seventh birthday. Eddie's subsequent gaze shifted to the window, where explosions and frightful screams echoed from the streets below. The charm he had cast only delayed the inevitable within the hotel, but now the Death Eaters were wreaking havoc all over the town.

Speaking urgently, he addressed Sherlock, "Time is of the essence..." "John", Sherlock completed. Eddie continued "Although this is a big ask, I hope you can help me out. I need you to go back to London, head to the Ministry and talk to Mrs. Selwyn, she's the Head of the Department of Mysteries. Tell her that Stedry is dead and that the Death Eaters have retrieved secrets from Department 7!"

"Sorry, but why can't you do that yourself? Even if the Ministry maintains suspicions of you switching sides and following the Dark Lord, you could plea your innocence upon return, then you wouldn't have to run from the Death Eaters anymore," Sherlock queried, puzzled.

It was at this juncture that sonic booms echoed through the sky, followed by the irate voice of Moody reverberating amidst the pandemonium. "Get moving everybody! Evacuate the street, don't let the destruction spread!"

The shriek of Bellatrix was particularly ear-splitting as she retaliated, "I remember your face, you foolish imp! Avada Kedavra!"

It was now evident that Eddie  had already come into contact with the Death Eaters. Sherlock, privileged with this information, had been in Sheffield specifically for this occurrence — but he kept his composure, allowing Eddie to conclude his narration. Gasping for breath and speaking hastily, Eddie blurted out, "The attack a month ago in Wales, where four Aurors were slain by Death Eaters — I was one of the Aurors. I was the captain of one of the two Auror teams. The four who succumbed were all under my leadership."

Sherlock's eyebrows knitted together as he listened intently. "We were dispatched because the former Head of the Department of Mysteries, Mrs. Stedry, was under attack by the Death Eaters. She called upon the Aurors for support, but when we got there it was as if the Death Eaters knew exactly when and where we would appear."

"Just as we approached Mrs. Stedry's residence, we were ambushed there by the Death Eaters who had been lying in wait!"

"Two of my companions fell right there, on the battlefield and the resulting chaos forced me apart from the remaining seven," Eddie declared solemnly, conjuring the grim memory of a deadly skirmish.

"After I had dealt with the pair of Death Eaters who pursued me, I made my way back to Mrs. Stedry's home. By that time the Death Eaters were already gone and Mrs. Stedry was barely clinging to life. She confessed to me that Voldemort's followers had forced her to drink multiple potions of Veritaserum, consequently, they uncovered the secret of Department 7. With her last strength she told me to inform Mrs. Selwyn of what had happened, because the alternative was a terrifying one: Voldemort gaining access to an unassailable power."

"I initially intended to help Mrs. Stedry escape, but she breathed her last after divulging her invaluable piece of information."

"As I was preparing to return to the Ministry the Death Eaters once again found me, resuming their relentless pursuits and leading to inevitable battles. My body was ravaged and ill-equipped for extensive Apparition and so I was left with no choice but to strive for escape from one city to the next, making a desperate bid for London." 

"But upon my arrival in Luton, a stone's throw away from Ministry of Magic, more calamitous news from the Ministry reached my ears," his face resembling the grim waters of the Black Lake.

"Two more members of my squad had died in the chaos and everyone else dispersed. Only I remained in my squad! Yet among all of the other squads, not one of them say even a single casualty!"

"In the Ministry, malicious rumors circulated, referring to me as a traitor who had revealed our plans to the Death Eaters and used my position to cause my own squad's downfall. Given the magnitude of this scandal, the Ministry chose to keep the news under wraps, privately authorizing the other squads to hunt me down with a dead or alive condition."

All this while, Sherlock had been investigating the actions of the Death Eaters, which corresponded with Eddie's account, from his evading pursuit through Wales to London, then abruptly turning away from London in Luton, finally seeking refuge in Sheffield.

"So, without arresting or interrogating you, the Ministry found you guilty based on mere testimonies of those who escaped?" Sherlock questioned, knitting his brows, to which Eddie responded with a scornful smirk.

"The treachery is convoluted. The assumed traitor isn't any ordinary Auror. Do you know who the surviving members of my squad are? Three are nephews or nieces of Department Heads, one of them is the son of the Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and the last is a direct descendant of a former Minister for Magic!"

"All of them are pure-blood wizards?"

"Five individuals, all pure-bloods! That squad was deliberately assembled like this, it was designed so the next generation of these important people could make a name for themselves while staying out of any real danger. They had never been allocated missions involving combat with the Death Eaters prior to this."

Eddie's countenance resembled a storm brewing. "I should have known! Why else would from luxuries-prone masters be abruptly cast into such dangerous missions? It had been a meticulously planned trap from the start!"

"My return to the Ministry is an impossibility. But, the information has to be passed on. Certainly, amongst the surviving five, there must be a traitor that now has infiltrated the Ministry. The purpose of these Death Eaters is not only to capture me and prevent me from bringing the news back to the Ministry, but also to lure out a majority of the Ministry's forces to create conditions for that traitor!"

"Therefore, you must go back and inform Mrs. Selwyn! I originally planned on reaching the Isle of Man, to meet with the retired former leader of my squad, Chris, who shares an affinity with my ancestors and would trust me. I intended to disclose the circumstances to him, allowing him to visit the Ministry. Alas, now, we are short on time!" (E/N.: So it seems like author is alluding to Barty Crouch Jr. being the traitor here since last chapter it was mentioned that he was also involved in the same battle as Eddie and came out with some recognition, but let me just remind you that Barty Crouch Jr. is 15 years old right now. He's a Hogwarts students, brother. Why would he be an Auror or involved in this plot at all??)

A sense of urgency held Eddie in its grip. "I implore you for your assistance, John. I can't tell you why Department 7 is so important, I have no idea either, but Mrs. Stedry insisted it was vital! And this group of Death Eaters is acting directly on the Dark Lord's command, which shows how much he values this information!"

Outside, the struggle between Death Eaters and Aurors continued, leaving Sherlock only a scarce moment for contemplation. Assisting Aurors against Death Eaters offered him a mere stint with the Magical Law Enforcement Squad, while the Department of Mysteries would necessitate still further struggle. However, Eddie's entreaty opened a path to engage directly with the Department of Mysteries and the Head of the Department. Coupled with the fact that he was Amy's father, the situation at the Ministry seemed more compelling than here. Whether considering the welfare of the public or personal concerns, Sherlock had plenty of reasons to choose. He locked his gaze onto Eddie's pleading eyes. "Tell me, how should I approach Mrs. Selwyn at the Ministry of Magic? How can I find her?" he asked.