Altair didn't mean to step back from it entirely either. He was a Shelby too, after all, and more than that, he'd eventually be the one holding the reins of the whole family.
Jimmy hesitated a moment, then asked anyway:
"But didn't you just say the Ministry doesn't allow young wizards to use magic outside school? If you got caught breaking that rule, wouldn't there be some kind of punishment?"
"The Ministry mostly relies on something called the Trace to keep tabs on underage wizards, but I have a way to block its detection. They'll never know."
Before leaving school for the holidays, students were always handed strict reminders warning them against the use of magic outside school, in accordance with the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery.
Under Ministry law, every witch and wizard was monitored by the Trace until they came of age at seventeen. The charm did not know who cast a spell; it simply tracked an underage wizard's location and detected whether magic had been performed anywhere in their vicinity.
Whenever magic was cast near an underage wizard in the Muggle world, the Improper Use of Magic Office received an immediate alert and dispatched an official warning letter to the student.
That was exactly why Harry kept getting blamed whenever magic went off around him while he was stuck at home over the holidays.
While the Trace could tell what spell had actually been cast, and the Ministry could use the Prior Incantato charm on a wizard's own wand to determine that, if a different wand had been used instead, the Ministry would have no evidence to act on and the accusation would simply be dropped.
Altair didn't have a second wand, though he didn't need one either. With Vilya on, his magical power already rivaled that of the Hogwarts professors, and combined with how far he'd come in Transfiguration by now, shielding himself from a single Trace charm was nothing at all.
"So there's a way to keep the Ministry from noticing?"
Jimmy let out a breath of relief, his expression easing considerably.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll let you know if anything comes up at home, though I doubt there'll be much reason to bother you. Like you said, the underworld in Birmingham already belongs to the Shelbys as it is."
Jimmy rolled down the window and flicked the rest of his cigarette out, grinning to himself, then seemed to remember something and added:
"The plane to Switzerland's all set. We can head out tonight. Though I am curious, why the sudden urge to spend Christmas in Switzerland this year?"
"I have some business to take care of in Liechtenstein. Switzerland just happens to be close by."
Altair answered, did a quick bit of math in his head, then asked:
"What time's the flight tonight?"
"Seven. We'll land in Switzerland a little past eight."
"Seven... there's still time, then. Let's head back so I can get ready, I want to go see him first."
Jimmy knew right away Altair meant Freddy, and nodded, dialing on the phone with one hand while he drove.
Freddy was still locked up, after all, so a visit meant word had to go ahead of time.
A while later, Jimmy hung up.
"It's arranged. You can head over any time this afternoon."
Altair nodded, said nothing more, closed his eyes, and settled in to rest.
That afternoon, Altair arrived back at Shelby Manor in Birmingham.
After seeing his aunt and uncle, he changed into a fresh set of clothes, and later in the afternoon took a car out to the prison on the other side of the city's outskirts.
As the true power behind the Shelby family, Freddy's living conditions were more than comfortable. He had a private cell to himself, kept spotless, fitted out with every convenience one could ask for.
When Altair arrived, Freddy was watching television.
The broadcast was covering news about that great bear up north. Altair realized the bear would be coming apart within a matter of days.
Every outlet imaginable was covering it obsessively by now, with all sorts of so-called experts offering their predictions and guesses. Freddy had his own plans where that was concerned, and there was no telling how many orders had gone out from this very room over the past few days.
Hearing someone enter, Freddy turned, and the moment he saw it was Altair, the corner of his mouth curled into a grin.
"Altair, my boy. I've missed you something fierce."
The guard who'd shown Altair in gave Freddy a nod, said nothing, and turned to shut the door behind him.
"You look like you're in good spirits, Freddy."
Altair studied him. Freddy looked barely changed at all, his blond hair still cut clean and sharp, his eyes carrying that same commanding, watchful edge. Years behind bars hadn't touched him in the slightest.
Freddy had long since grown used to how Altair addressed him. His grin never wavered as he rose from the sofa, straightened his clothes, and walked over to the table, waving Altair over.
"Come sit. Have dinner with me."
Altair took off his coat, hung it on the rack by the door, and came to sit at the table.
Freddy had laid out quite a spread for dinner, along with a bottle of cognac.
"Had the warden set this up special. Jimmy told me a few days back that you'd be home from that remarkable school of wizards today, and I knew you'd come see me."
Freddy poured himself half a glass of brandy, unhurried, gave it a swirl, and turned his eyes to Altair.
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