Chapter 168: Eddie·Butler
Chapter 168: Eddie·Butler
Sherlock didn’t move, directly using his magic to open the door of the guest room.
He looked at the black-haired young man who walked in, his eyes filled with a hint of amusement.
“Why didn’t you run during the chaos? Why come back to find me?”
This young man, presumably named "Eddie", could have easily fled during the earlier commotion. If he didn’t want to return to the Ministry of Magic, heading northwest would have led him to other destinations.
Yet, instead of taking that opportunity to escape, he returned to find Sherlock.
This was indeed unexpected.
The black-haired young man didn’t immediately answer Sherlock’s question. Instead, he stared at Sherlock’s chest, his eyes fixed and unblinking.
“Have you met Amy?”
Sherlock’s gaze sharpened. He followed the young man’s gaze and looked down, realizing that he had been staring at the amulet Amy had lent him before they parted ways.
After a brief moment of surprise, Sherlock’s thoughts raced, and he asked in a low voice.
“Are you Eddie·Butler?”
The black-haired young man was visibly surprised that Sherlock knew his name.
“Did Amy tell you my name?”
His response was essentially an indirect confirmation that Sherlock’s guess was correct.
“No, I just happened to know that the Ministry of Magic is looking for a wizard named Eddie, and the Death Eaters are also searching for someone with the last name Butler. They must be looking for the same person, and that person is you.”
The black-haired young man, Eddie, stared at Sherlock for a moment before shaking his head with a bitter smile.
“It seems that anyone Amy trusts isn’t ordinary.”
He then asked earnestly.
“How is Amy? Did you come to this city specifically to help Amy find me?”
Sherlock shook his head.
“No, I’m here to handle other matters. I didn’t expect to run into Amy’s father. Amy is still at the Leaky Cauldron, and my friend is watching over her.”
After learning that Amy was safe, Eddie suddenly became serious.
“In that case, I might be a bit presumptuous, but I need your help.”
Sherlock looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“We’ve only just met, and you don’t even know my name yet.”
Eddie spoke quickly.
“Since Amy gave you the amulet I gave her, it means she trusts you. If she trusts you, I have no reason to doubt you.”
While his words might seem unreasonable, given Amy’s extraordinary talents, a father trusting his not-yet-seven-year-old daughter was understandable.
Eddie glanced out the window.
Explosions and screams were echoing through the streets outside. The Muggle-Repelling Charm he had used only affected the hotel and was now failing as the Death Eaters attacked the entire street.
“My time is running out, Mr. —”
“Just call me John.”
“Alright, John.” Eddie said, frowning. “Though it’s quite presumptuous, given the current situation, I can only ask for your help. I need you to go to the Ministry of Magic and find the current Head of the Department of Mysteries, Madame Selwyn. Tell her that Studdery is dead, and the Death Eaters have extracted the secret of the seventh door in the Department of Mysteries from her mind!”
“Why can’t you go yourself? Even if the Ministry of Magic suspects you’ve joined the Dark Lord’s side, you could explain everything and clear your name, and escape the Death Eaters’ pursuit.”
Sherlock was puzzled.
As he spoke, a series of whip-like sounds filled the air, and Mad-Eye Moody’s angry voice cut through the chaos and screams.
“Stop them quickly! Don’t let the chaos spread! Seal off this street! Otherwise, the International Statute of Secrecy will be nothing but a piece of paper!”
“Old cripple! I remember you!” Bella’s shrill voice was piercing. “Avada Kedavra!”
“Stupefy!”
“—”
The Aurors had clearly engaged the Death Eaters. Sherlock had been waiting for this moment in Sheffield, but he didn’t rush. He waited for Eddie to finish speaking.
“You should know that a month ago, there was an attack in Wales where four Aurors were killed by the Death Eaters.” Eddie’s breathing was rapid, and he spoke quickly. “I was part of that operation. There were ten Aurors in total, two squads, and I was the captain of one of them. The four Aurors who died were all under my command!”
Sherlock frowned slightly, listening intently.
“The operation was initiated because the former Head of the Department of Mysteries, Mrs. Studdery, was attacked by Death Eaters. She requested assistance, and the Ministry sent us. But they seemed to know exactly when we would arrive and where we would be.”
“Just as we arrived near Mrs. Studdery’s residence, we were ambushed by Death Eaters who had been lying in wait! Two of my men were killed on the spot, and in the ensuing battle, I got separated from the other seven.”
“After taking care of the two Death Eaters who were chasing me, I returned to Mrs. Studdery’s place. The Death Eaters had already left, and Mrs. Studdery was on her last breath. She told me that the Dark Lord’s followers had made her drink a large amount of Veritaserum and learned the secret behind the seventh door in the Department of Mysteries. She urged me to inform the current Head of the Department, Madame Selwyn, as soon as possible, or else the Dark Lord would gain a power that no one could stop!”
“I wanted to take Mrs. Studdery with me, but she was already down to her last breath. After imparting this crucial information, she passed away.”
“Just then, the Death Eaters found me again and resumed their pursuit. I was injured in the subsequent battle, and my body couldn’t withstand long-distance Apparition, so I had to flee city by city towards London.”
“By the time I reached Luton, just as I was about to reach the Ministry of Magic, I heard the news from there.”
Eddie’s face was as dark as the waters of Black Lake.
“After getting separated from the others, two more of my team members died. Now, the Auror squad I led is down to just me! Meanwhile, the other squad survived completely!”
“Those who returned to the Ministry of Magic accused me of being a traitor, claiming I had informed the Death Eaters of the department’s plans in advance and used my authority to kill my own team members! Because this was a major scandal, the Ministry of Magic didn’t publicize the news. Instead, they privately ordered the Aurors to hunt me down, with orders to bring me in dead or alive!”
Sherlock recalled his research on the Death Eaters over the past month, and their movements matched Eddie’s account perfectly.
From Wales to London, then a sudden change of direction in Luton, and finally to Sheffield!
“Just based on the word of those who fled back, the Ministry of Magic judged you guilty without even bringing you in for questioning?” Sherlock asked, frowning.
Eddie laughed coldly.
“It’s more complicated than that. The traitor isn’t just any ordinary Auror. Do you know who the members of the other squad were? The son of a Head of Department, the nephews and nieces of three department heads, and a direct descendant of a former Minister of Magic!”
“Are they all purebloods?”
“Five people, five purebloods! That squad was specially assembled! Before this mission, they had never been involved in any operations against the Death Eaters! The Auror Office is now the easiest department to gain experience in. Those officials want to give their children a boost, but they don’t want them to take any risks!”
Eddie’s face was contorted with anger. “I should have seen it coming! Why would these pampered young men, who were always protected, suddenly be assigned to such a dangerous mission! It was all planned from the beginning!”
“I can’t go back to the Ministry of Magic! But this information must be relayed. One of those five survivors is definitely a traitor, and they are now hiding within the Ministry of Magic! The Death Eaters’ plan this time isn’t just to capture me and prevent me from bringing the message back. They also want to lure out the majority of the Ministry’s forces to create an opportunity for the traitor!”
“So someone must go back and inform Madame Selwyn! I originally planned to go to the Isle of Man, where Chris, the former Head of the Auror Office, retired. He has a good relationship with my elders and would trust me. I could tell him what happened, and he could go to the Ministry of Magic. But now, there’s no time!”
His voice grew more urgent.
“I need your help, John. I don’t know what’s behind the seventh door, but it must be important! The Death Eaters’ current actions are directly ordered by the Dark Lord, which means the Dark Lord himself needs that thing!”
The battle between the Death Eaters and the Aurors outside was still raging, but Sherlock didn’t need much time to consider.
Helping the Aurors against the Death Eaters was a way to join the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic. To get involved with the Department of Mysteries would require more effort later.
But Eddie’s request could get him directly involved with the Department of Mysteries and allow him to meet the current Head of the Department.
Moreover, he was Amy’s father, and the situation inside the Ministry of Magic seemed more urgent than it appeared here.
Whether for the public good or his own interests, Sherlock had enough reasons to make his decision.
He looked into Eddie’s tense eyes.
“Tell me, how do I find Madame Selwyn at the Ministry of Magic?”
(End of Chapter)
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