That got him to sit up eagerly, and I took out some paper. I folded the sheets and then cut them into strips, before using a pen to draw symbols onto them.
"These are a form of Japanese magic called 'Ofuda' or magic tags," I said as I drew a Stunner Tag. "Usually, you need blood or some other special ingredients mixed into the ink, but it should be fine with your passive magic."
"What do they do?" Justin asked curiously.
"Well, this one I've drawn up acts similar to Stupify, the Stunning spell," I explained. "Channel magic into it, and it will fly off and attach to somebody and knock them out them. No need for a wand. Of course, it's only a one-use talisman that burns up after activating on the target, so you need to make more."
"Whoa! Is this like Runes?" he asked. "I've heard about them at Hogwarts, but they don't teach it until our third year."
"Good eye! Yes, Ofuda operate off of a similar system that Ancient Runes do. They are, at the most basic, symbols that guide magical energy in certain ways to produce spell-like effects. You can consider it sort of like a computer program or electrical circuits," I explained.
"How does that work, though?" Justin wondered.
"Why does saying things in pseudo-Latin create magical effects? Why do you have to wave a wand in a certain way? No one is entirely sure. Though, if you ask me, spell incantations as well as Runes are crutches of sorts. Magic is based purely on intent. It's why you can cast without words, or even a wand, at higher levels. Wands and Runes just make it easier to guide the magical energy into doing what you want."
Whoa," Justin murmured.
"Whoa indeed. Now, how about we try some of these Ofuda out?" I offered.
"Yeah!" he exclaimed, and reach out for the talisman's I'd made, only to move them away from his reach.
"Wait, don't use it around your wand," I warned him before he could touch the Ofuda, belatedly recalling an important fact about magic, specifically underaged forms of it.
"What? Why not?" he asked.
"Because all wands have what it known as a 'Trace' on them to detect underaged uses of magic," I explained. "It fades after six years, so you can cast spells freely then, but any time you use magic near a wand with the Trace, the Ministry detects it."
"So, wait, it detects magic even if I don't use my wand for it?" he asked, confused, and I nodded.
"Yes, the Trace detects any magic used in the vicinity. Doesn't matter from who or what, it will sense it, and register it as a violation of the rules. As such, the restrictions against underaged magic use are only really enforced on muggleborn or halfbloods who live out in the non-magical side of things."
That was how in the second book, Harry had been blamed for the use of magic by Dobby, as the Trace on his wand had detected the House Elf using magic. Same deal for Harry's accidental magic outburst in the 3rd book, and then his use of the Patronus in the 5th book. The Trace just knew magic had been used nearby and so sent the warning to the Ministry.
And, being a passive charm to monitor magic and not able to tell the difference, only homes that lacked magic of any kind would be investigated for magical misuse via the Trace. Even a couple basic wards or magical items like the floo would be detected by the Trace. Hence why the Ministry didn't investigate underaged magic use for any home that was registered as having a floo.
"That's unfair!" Justin griped, and I nodded.
"Indeed. I'm not sure how accurate the Trace is, but it can detect magic use within a dozen meters or so, and through walls and floors, too," I said, before glancing out the window in thought. "You've got a pretty big backyard, if we leave your wand up here in your room, it should be fine."
"That works," he said with a nod.
I carried the Ofuda, not wanting to risk them going off accidentally, and Justin led me outsides to the back yard. He had a pool out there, which was in the process of being cleaned for use in later in the summer. The Finch-Fletchley's also had a tennis yard, a bunch of ornamental statues, and a couple sheds.
"Alright, I think we can do it over here," I said, leaning against the fence. "Here, take one of these Stunner Ofuda, and use it on me."
"On you?" Justin asked nervously as he took the paper tags from me. "Won't this knock you out?"
"Yeah, I don't mind. You need a target, after all. And a Stunner is one of the safest offensive spells to use on a person, besides Expeliarmus, the Disarming Charm," I assured him.
"Okay… so, I just… use it as if it were a wand?" Justin asked slowly.
"Yup! Go ahead, feel your magic and let it out slowly into the paper. Treat the talisman like a wand!" I urged, and waited.
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