Hermione spent Friday afternoon in the library, as she had every afternoon that week. She had uncovered a few tidbits related to the mystery of Willow's addiction, but not enough for a complete picture. Citing homework, Ron and Harry had managed to avoid helping her until now. The three of them sat in the empty room, leafing through stacks of musty tomes.
"You know, 'Mione, other people see Friday as the day school work ends," Ron complained.
"I thought you really wanted to help out Willow," Hermione retorted with an edge in her voice. Harry had noticed two things over the course of the week: Ron was definitely developing a crush on Willow, and Hermione was definitely bothered by it.
"Well, I-I do," Ron stammered defensively, his ears glowing red. "It's just, you haven't gotten anywhere all week. We're so far down your list of research possibilities that we aren't even reading about dark magic." His current book was Who's Who: Evil Wizards and Witches of the Twelfth Century. Hermione was having them list the similar characteristics of the evil wizards, in hopes of finding something in common. Harry had just started on the thirteenth century.
"Maybe we should talk to Professor Giles," Harry offered. "He either knows the answer or is looking for it too."
"Why would he want our help, Harry? We're only students," Ron said.
"Actually, Mr. Weasley, you might be surprised at the high value I place on help from students," Giles said from the doorway. He had been on his way to research Willow's addiction himself. "What exactly have you been looking for?" The boys looked at Hermione as Giles sat down beside them.
"Well, we were hoping we could find out something about Willow and what happened at Harry's house the other night. Possibly something different about dark magic that causes it to become addictive," Hermione answered. She explained the course of her research and how they had come to her current project. "I think I would be able to find more answers in the Restricted Section, but …"
"You weren't sure if it was your place to do so, and that requires permission," Giles finished for her. She nodded. "This is quite thoughtful of you all, to take this on yourselves when you barely know Willow," he said, impressed. "If she knew, and for the moment I think it best that she does not, she would be most appreciative." All three beamed at that comment. "Truthfully, I could use the assistance. During my tenure as a Watcher I grew rather fond of having people aid me in my research."
"Is that how you knew Willow?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Harry, indeed it is. The very first night I knew Buffy Summers, Willow was very nearly killed by vampires. Needless to say, Buffy saved her and Xander Harris, who was Willow's best friend." He felt no need to mention the loss of her friend Jesse. Better, he figured, not to disturb them too greatly. "She and Xander helped me research the vampires behind the attack, and continued to work with us for the next six years. As they were sixteen at the time, I would hope that it would be obvious to you three that I value the help of people of any age." They nodded.
"What should we do first?" Hermione asked.
"Actually, you seem to have gotten quite a good start on your own. However, I believe I can answer your question about what makes dark magic addictive when other magic is not." Hermione looked downcast, thinking of the wasted effort of the past week, but Giles perked her back up. "Do not feel badly, Miss Granger. You were asking the correct question, which is the most difficult part of all research. I have simply been doing this my entire life. It gives one certain advantages."
"Thank you, Professor." Ron and Harry looked at each other, thinking how some things never changed.
"As for your question, the answer is complex. In part, the magic itself is simply different. Rather like chocolate and, say, broccoli. Both are food. One is bad for you, one is not, but you eat them both. Your body likes chocolate, it doesn't like broccoli as much, but broccoli is less bad for you. Does that make sense?" They nodded. "As with eating chocolate, too much dark magic can have bad side effects. Often, this manifests itself as severe personality changes, lust for power, massive mood swings and the like," he lectured. Hermione was taking notes, and Giles waited for her to catch up. "Also, with each use, the body craves more and more, forcing the wielder to draw on even greater power. Thus the cyclical nature of the addiction." Hermione scribbled furiously but managed to get it all down. Giles briefly flashed on Willow doing the same thing a long time before.
"The other part has to do with intent. We're all agreed that, keeping in mind the limits of this metaphor, you can eat as much broccoli as possible without too many side effects, yes?" They agreed, though Ron made a face at the thought of that much broccoli. "When people cast so-called light magics – defense and healing spells, certain types of divination – they are aiming to help people, and thus the detrimental effect of the magic is small and easily tempered, like broccoli. You can have as much as you want."
"With dark magic, as with chocolate, the usage must be greatly limited. However, it does not have to be entirely avoided, as long as the intent is to help, because the intent blunts the damage. Unfortunately, the nature of dark magic is to harm, so the intent must be even more clear."
"So Willow could use dark magic, if she doesn't use much, and then only to help people," Harry said, thinking it through. Giles nodded.
"One thing I don't get," Ron chimed in, "is how she can do magic without a wand."
"That has to do with how much power she has access to, right Professor?" Hermione said.
"That's one factor, yes. Another is where her talent lies – some types of magic are better suited for wands than others. Also, because of the region in which she lived, namely the Hellmouth, she had access to greater power initially than most people ever do." Giles had explained the Hellmouth to them in class. "Unfortunately, to use it without a wand she is forced to call on excess power, since it is so unfocused."
"Like shoving as much chocolate as you can into your mouth at once," Ron said, making them all laugh.
"Yes, quite. Professor Dumbledore hopes, and I agree to a point, that the use of a wand will allow her to regulate the flow of her power and use less for any given task. That, in turn, reduces the possibility of the power controlling her. That is where I was hoping to begin today. If you would be so kind, I think we should look for instances of evil wizards using wands and compare them to those who did not."
Ron looked at the Who's Who and groaned.