Page 23 of Monster's Mystery

“Really,” I said dryly. “Where’s your proof that Hazel did it, then?”

“Oh, I don’t think she did any more. There wasn’t any proof. But Geoffrey... I wonder if we can sneak into his room to find the murder weapon?”

I scowled at her. “I don’t approve of your methods. Leave me out of it.” I stalked away from her back to our table, where Bruce was sitting with Una. “Any luck?” I asked them.

Bruce nodded. “Justin is roommates with Geoffrey.”

“Ugh, that’s right, he is!” I stomped my foot slightly. “I forgot to ask him when he was last seen.”

Bruce got to his feet. “No worries. I’ll go.”

“Thanks. I need to get to Herbology. I want to ask Professor Calderwood about Hazel.”

CHAPTER7

It turnedout that I didn’t need to try to talk to Professor Calderwood.

He practically pounced on me the instant I walked in through the door of his classroom. “Where is Ms. Forest?”

It took me a moment to remember Hazel’s last name. “I was hoping you might have some information on her whereabouts,” I said.

The professor groaned. “No!”

“Did she make it to her meeting with you the other day?” I asked.

“Yes, she was even early. Very eager to work with me.” The professor swept over to his table and started looking through his notes, grumbling under his breath.

“She seemed like herself, then?” I asked tentatively, following him.

“As much herself as she usually is.” He brushed half the papers onto the floor and rested his fists on the table, head bowed.

I studied him with a frown. His brown hair seemed more ratty than usual, and his clothes were covered with dirt. “Are you all right?”

“The plants aren’t growing the right way in the forest,” he said abruptly. He sighed and raised his head. “I need Ms. Forest... Hazel... to help me with my analysis. There’s too much to do. Too much to analyze. The dark forest has never done this before.”

I have to admit, I only really took Herbology because of Hazel. Most of what the professor was saying was going over my head. But... “There’s something wrong with the dark forest?” I asked anxiously. “Is there anything that we can do, as a class? Maybe we can run some of the tests for you?”

The professor blinked at me owlishly. “Yes! We can start right away!” He started around his table, ready to give the word to the other students.

“Unfortunately, you must have forgotten that today is a shortened period,” I said, just loud enough for him to hear me. “We won’t have time to actuallydoanything.”

The professor deflated, and I had the inexplicable urge to laugh. He was so dramatic.

“But you can give us the rundown on what you’ve discovered so far. Maybe set us a short essay on unusual growth based on what you’ve found?”

Professor Calderwood brightened considerably. “Yes, girl, that’s exactly what I’ll do! I don’t have the time required for research. Why not use the brains of the students I teach?”

I smiled at him and sat down, prepared to take notes.

The professor clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. The greenhouse went silent almost immediately. “Welcome back. The dark forest has a big problem, and my teaching assistant is missing. We are going to focus on the problem of the trees. The magic is leaving the trees and plants at the edge of the forest. They are withering slowly. Here is the rate of decay,” he paused to draw a sketch on the blackboard, showing the border of the forest and where it met the castle grounds. Within the border, he wrote several numbers around the edge. “If you’ll notice, it’s not consistent across the border, but it is the same no matter what plant I test in the same area. I need you to do a research essay for me. One page, due next class, as time is of the essence. I will make my notes available to you at the library.”

Groans went up from my classmates. I wanted to smack them.

This is important!I thought fiercely.

Probably more important than anything else in your sad and pathetic lives!

I took a deep breath. Paige was getting to me and she wasn’t even here. I stood up and faced the rest of the class. “This isn’t busy work, people. The dark forest is at stake, and Professor Calderwood is asking for our help. We can, and more importantly, weshoulddo this.”

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