Willow walked slowly home from the magic shop, enjoying the freedom of the night. She rarely got the chance to be alone in the dark anymore, but Buffy was back and patrolling so she didn't have to worry about the occasional fledgling anymore. She could look after herself anyway. Her powers had been growing.

As she turned the corner towards her house she heard a hooting overhead. Looking up she saw a snowy owl circling. It seemed to be carrying something, but that would be silly, why would an owl be carry something, unless it was a fieldmouse.

She quickly glanced up again to see if that was what the owl was carrying.. but no, it was more papery, like a newspaper. The owl hooted again and began to circle lower until it was almost on top of her. Then it dropped the paper at her feet, clucked softly and flew off. "How curious" Willow muttered before bending down to pick up the paper. "The Daily Prophet" she read, "I've never heard of the Daily prophet" She set off down the road home.

Looking about for more strange owls she turned the key in lock and went in.

As soon as she entered the house a figure emerged from the darkness carrying a cat. "Yes, Mrs. McGonagall, you were right, I don't know how we missed her, but hopefully she will be the one, the others haven't lasted more than a year." He stroked the cat, "We must return, the children may have run riot by know." And suddenly the two disappeared with a pop.

Willow looked at the newspaper again before putting it to one side and making herself a cup of cocoa. When it was done she spread the paper in front of her to read. She had never seen such an odd paper with things in it like the ministry of magic and Quidditch. What on earth was it on about. As she flicked through it she noticed that one thing had been circled in red pen.

** Wanted: Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. Position available immediately at Hogwarts School of Magic Standard Pay & Benefits apply. All applications must be in by last Owl Saturday 31st August. Muggles need not apply **

"What's a muggle" Willow wondered, before closing the paper and finishing her Cocoa. She went to bed deciding that the next day she would consult Giles regarding the very strange newspaper downstairs.

The next day, Willow made her way to the Magic Box with the newspaper. Giles was the only person in when she arrived so she had time to tell her entire story without interruptions from Anya, Buffy, or Xander. After she finished Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them while he thought. It had been so long since he had even thought of Hogwarts. The one place where he had felt truly at home. The one place where he had truly screwed up.

"It's a school in England" He began, "A special school, it teaches magic. You generally start there at 11 and leave when you are 18. Except of course if you break the rules" He replaced his glasses and looked at her. "I broke the rules. My wand was broken and I left, of course I knew too much to ever return to life as a muggl-I mean human so I became a watcher"

Willow looked at the watcher in surprise. "You went to a school for magic, and with wands, why with wands??" Giles looked at her "Your magic is very rare, you are the conduit, most wizards need something else. It's probably why you weren't approached. They normally can't teach you're type of magic. Yours is Goddess given, not family bred."

He looked at the notice in the paper again, "It looks like they want you at Hogwarts though, I'll bet old Dumbledore had something to do with this., Well you were looking for a break weren't you?" He enquired, "Old Hogwarts is great, especially now that 'you know who' is gone." Willow sat back in her chair, to teach magic, that would be wonderful. And she wasn't really needed around here at the moment. Maybe she could take a break. Then she remembered something, "What does it mean by last owl?"

"Ahh the owls" Giles grinned with fond remembrance, "They are the main postal method between wizards and witches, also one of the more popular familiars because of it. I know someone who could send an owl for you, if you were interested. I think you could really grow as a witch in that environment. Plus you could get to see some world class Quidditch played. There are some of the finest players at Hogwarts. I think Viktor Krum may even transfer there."

Willow tried to follow Giles' ramble but got lost around Quidditch, "Who's Viktor Krum?, and what's Quidditch?? Anyway, what do you think I should do?" Although when Giles had mentioned the prospect of further growth as a witch her mind had more or less been made up. "You should go", Giles said, "You will love it there, the place vibrates with magic".

"Ok, I'll take your advice, can you help with my application?" Giles nodded his assent and they went to work on it. 2 hours later he hurried off to the nearest wizard post office and sent the letter by fastest owl. He was happy to help Willow as it meant that someone would be able to experience and appreciate Hogwarts as he never had.