Hey guys next chapter… yay… so I gotta say I was very happy people review… it made me all warm and fuzzy inside and made me want to write some more….

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Krycek's Immortal Slayer, Just Me Prime, Ralyks, and Susan… you guys rock!

Susan: one of your answers was right. But which one? Just read and find out….

Chapter 4-What's the Catch?

"These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just so much that time can not erase.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all you fears

And I held your hand through all of these years but you still have all of me."

'My Immortal' Evanescence

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"Where is he?" Willow Rosenberg asked coming into the lobby,

"In his room where he's been for far too long." One of the slayers said causing Willow to stop in her tracks. She had to control her emotions before speaking.

"He's grieving just as we all are." Willow said, softly.

"I believe what the slayer is trying to say is that he hasn't eaten of anything since we found out. Plus I found him collapsed on the floor before you called, we're worried." Charles Gunn said, trying to stop a fight. The slayer glared at him but said nothing.

"That's why I came out here. I had a feeling something like this would happen." Willow said starting towards the stairs.

"How?" Gunn asked.

"It's happened before." Willow said simply, walking up the stairs.

Angel sat in his room, brooding. The pain hadn't faded but he'd started to get used to it. As used to it as one can get he thought. Angel hadn't been expecting anyone to come up too see him, so when there was a knock on his door he jumped. "Come in," he said. He then became more shocked, if it was possible, when he saw it was Willow standing in the doorway. "Willow?"

"Hey, Angel," she said stepping into the room. Willow winced slightly as she looked at Angel. He looked like shit. His eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles under them. He looked as though he hadn't slept or eaten in a couple days. He was paler than normal, also. He looked like someone had ripped his heart out. Poor Guy Willow thought, sadly.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you but what are you doing here?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be in Cleveland with your friends?"

"I'm here to make sure you will be ok," Willow said. "And you're my friend too. I'm worried about you. I know how hard it was the last time." Willow looked at him, tears in her eyes and he knew she was in pain too but wanted to help him. She really did consider him a friend. As Angel thought about it, it made sense. Her and Dawn were the only ones that liked him, the others were just tolerating him cause of Buffy. Buffy… the thought made him sad.

Angel did not speak fro a while but when he did; his voice was thick with emotion. "It's worse this time. I know she's not coming back. It makes me want to join her. I don't know if I can go on."

"Angel, Buffy would not want you to do that. She told us the hardest thing to do in life is to live it and she wanted us to live, for her." Willow responded.

"I know, but I don't think that I can do it, this time." Angel said, not meeting Willow's eyes.

"Ok mister, you listen up. You are going to live. Why? Cause I said so. I've got my resolve face on so don't argue with me." Willow said. Angel finally met her eyes and knew she meant it.

"Fine, I will try." He said and Willow grinned, triumphantly.

"Ok, let's go get something to eat. I'm starved after my trip." Willow said and then turned to leave the room only to see a woman with red hair that rivaled Willow's own and had bright green eyes. "Umm… hi who are you?"

"My name is Lily Potter and I need to speak with you." She said looking at Angel.

"Potter… where have I heard that before?" Willow mumbled.

"You've probably heard of my son, Harry." Lily offered.

"That's where I heard it. The coven that helped me after," Willow paused. She didn't want to give away too much. After all she had just me the woman. "My dark time. They said something about a boy named Harry Potter beating a giant snake or something. I thought they were kidding."

"No, they were correct with what they said Harry did win against a giant snake called a basilisk, nasty creature. But that is not why I am here. I need to speak with you Angel, alone." Lily said, glancing at Willow.

"I will talk with you but Willow stays, I'll tell her everything anyways." Angel said and Lily nodded.

"Before I start I need you both to let me talk. Don't interrupt me." Both nodded so Lily continued. "I come from the powers that be." Willow gasped but did not say anything just glared at Lily. "I know that we are not your favorite people… or energies but we come bearing news and an offer." Lily said pausing to wait for the questions she knew would come.

"You're a power?" Willow asked.

"Yes my dear, but I am one of the younger ones. I actually remember what it was like to be human. And before you get too angry, I was on your side all these years but unfortunately I don't have enough pull up there yet." Lily replied and both Willow and Angel nodded.

"What is this news? And the offer?" Angel asked, finally breaking his silence.

"The news will have to wait until James gets here, but we can talk about the offer." Lily responded. "The offer is that we want to make you human."

"What's the catch?" Willow asked and Lily smiled.

"You are a smart one; nothing gets past you I'm sure." She said to Willow. "The catch is that you have to help a boy."

"Help how?" Willow asked, seriously.

"He must help him defeat Voldemort." Lily said Angel's eyes widened when he heard that.

"Voldemort is back?" he asked.

"Yes, he returned about a year ago. He used the boy to return." Lily said.

"The prophesy came to pass then?" he asked.

"For the most part. He's going to need help for the rest of it." Lily told him.

"And I get to be human if I do this. There's no taking it back this time?" Angel asked, bitterness creeping in.

"This time?" Willow asked.

"Yes, you would keep it no matter what." Lily confirmed, ignoring Willow's question, it wasn't her place to say anything.

Angel turned this over in his mind. He wanted to help the boy and if Voldemort won then all would be lost for everyone. And this was kind of his battle. But he did have his responsibilities. Willow seemed to realize his worries.

"Don't worry about us Angel. I've needed to get out of Cleveland for a while now, anyways. It'll be good change for all of us." Willow said smiling. Angel smiled slightly back.

"I'll do it." He said and Lily smiled.

"Good now where is James? I shouldn't have taken this long." Lily said sounding impatient.

"Oh dear lord," Angel said making Willow giggle and tell him he'd been spending too much time with Giles. "No Willow, it's gone" he said and Willow's eyes widened with understanding.

"Are you sure?" she asked, hopeful.

"Yes, it's gone. But how can that be?" Angel wondered, he could see that Willow was doing the same.

"Maybe I can help with that." A male voice said from the doorway. Everyone turned to find a man standing there.

"James, it took you long enough." Lily said trying to sound annoyed but failing slightly.

"I know Lils but that girl is a hard person to convince." James said to Lily. He then turned to the other two. "Hello, I'm James Potter, her husband." The others greeted him and introduced themselves, even though he already knew who they were it was nice to meet them in person.

"James here is bringing the news, good news I hope." She said.

"It's good I promise. A friend of yours has decided to help us out. It took some convincing but we finally managed." James said.

"It's Buffy isn't it?" Angel asked.

"Yes it is." James told the vampire.

"I knew it, that's why it's gone away Willow. She's back." Angel told Willow.

"You mean…" Willow said tears forming in her eyes. "Oh goddess."

"Willow," Angel said taking her in his arms. She cried softly against his chest. It was hard for her to take. She had just gotten to the point where she knew her best friend wasn't coming back and now she was back. After a few minutes Willow pulled away.

"I'm ok Angel. I'll be ok" she said more for her benefit than his.

"Why did you bring her back?" Angel asked.

"We want her to help defeat Voldemort." James said.

"So, she'll be doing exactly what I'm gonna do." Angel said.

"Yes, actually you'll be working together." Lily said.

"You never explained how he was going to help." Willow said.

"You're right I didn't." Lily responded. "You will be enrolling in Hogwarts."

"And how am I going to do that? Last time I checked they didn't let anyone over 17 enroll there." Angel questioned.

"Can I tell him?" James asked Lily and she smiled and nodded, amused at her husband excitement. "You will be going as your 16 year old self. And before you ask you will still have all your memories and stuff like that. You will just look 16."

"Wow, I always wondered what you would look like at 16, Angel." Willow commented.

"A lot different I assure you. I'm gonna need a haircut after they are done with me." Angel told her. "I have a question. People are bound to remember me; I mean my family is, was a powerful pureblood family." Angel pointed out.

"Yes we know that. We have made sure of that. The only person who will know who you really are is Buffy. Although there may be one loophole. Like I told Buffy, embrace it. It'll help you along the journey." James replied.

"Of course, so when do I leave?" Angel asked.

"You will leave in two days time. We wanted to give Buffy some time to adjust to Hogwarts. She may have been given the knowledge of a sixth year but she will still be quite shocked at Hogwarts. But I do believe that we could use the help of Miss Rosenberg." Lily said.

"Please call me Willow and I'll do whatever you can to help Buffy and Angel." Willow responded.

"Of course Willow, I need you to write a letter to Albus Dumbledore, and I'll help you write it." Lily said and the two left the room to go write the letter.

"What are we doing in the meantime?" Angel asked James.

"Still got that wand?" James said and the two smirked and Angel went to look for the wand.