Page 7 of Monster's Mystery

“Were we ever that young?” I asked Aiden in a hushed whisper.

“Yes.” Professor Dunlop appeared behind the girl. “Well? If you’re going to interrupt my job, at least come in and interrupt properly.”

I rolled my eyes at the frightened squeaks from the first years and followed the intimidatingly large man into his office. “Why do you enjoy scaring them so much?” I asked.

“Because it prevents them from barging in on me whenever they want,” he said with a sigh. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to work on you.” He leveled me with a fierce glower, his bushy gray eyebrows snapping together over his intense eyes.

I brushed his words away flippantly with one hand. “Of course not. I know what you were up to all summer with Grandfather.”

The glower lasted for a beat longer before he grinned. “I suppose that would make a difference. What can I do for you?”

“Why is Hazel a suspect in amurder, of all things?” I demanded.

The frown reappeared on his face. “I should start off by saying that I, personally, think that the accusation is ridiculous. Unfortunately, Headmistress Blackthorn doesn’t see things my way. She says she’s investigating where the evidence takes her.” He scoffed.

“Okay, what is the evidence?” I asked. It all sounded a little suspect. I exchanged a glance with Aiden, and was relieved to see that he seemed skeptical as well.

“Last night, Hazel and the victim were seen arguing in the main hall. It got very heated, apparently,” the professor said.

“Heated how, exactly? I can’t imagine Hazel threatening anyone.”

“She wasn’t the one threatening. The reports said that the victim was telling her to give him her thesis placement, or else he’d make her life a living hell.” Professor Dunlop scratched at his beard. “That was enough evidence to make the Headmistress think that she had motive to do away with him.”

“And opportunity, since Hazel was sleeping alone last night,” I murmured. “How was he killed?”

“Asphyxiation.”

I shuddered. “Not a pleasant way to go.”

“No, but fairly easy to clean up. No blood,” Aiden pointed out. “Easy to move the body.”

“Hazel couldn’t move a body,” I scoffed.

“What makes you think the body was moved?” the professor asked.

“Why would he be outside after hours? If he was killed before curfew, then other people would have seen something. If he was killed after curfew, then he would have been in the castle,” Aiden reasoned.

“Right. Because nobodyeverbreaks curfew,” Professor Dunlop drawled, the corner of his mouth ticking up in a smirk. “Incidentally, this student was on the Dragon Polo team, and he had been outside late to check up on his mount.”

Dragon Polo?I mouthed to myself, not familiar with the words, or at least, not put together.

“Thank you for your time, professor,” Aiden said, drawing me to my feet. “It’s nice to know you’re on our side.”

“You might find the Herbology professor, Calderwood, is also on your side,” the professor said mildly. “Send in the next student, please.”

CHAPTER3

Aiden leftme to set up my room on my own. He said something about having to meet his thesis professor, but I think he was just avoiding decorating.

Maybe I was being too harsh. It’s not like he has ever lied to me before.

Why start now?

“Oh my god, can you believe it? A murder? In our school?”

The Texan drawl of our third roommate, Lilia, preceded her into the room.

I looked up from my purse to greet the brunette. “How was your flight? Are your highlights… pinker?”

---