What a novel, intriguing concept. "Alex Hill" is such a wonderful creation - you've skillfully sketched a Charlyish ("Flowers for Algernon") Xander yet at the end our Xander is breaking through so perhaps Willow's spell is either not as good as it should be or it's wearing off.
I have no idea where this is headed but I'm fastening my seatbelt for the bumpy night.

Shakatany

PS BTW did you ever finish "Nobody Never Gets to Heaven"?