Page 24 of Monster's Baby

“You’ll find a baby easier to look after in a lot of ways,” he said wryly.“For one, you don’t have to hide him from us.But he’ll be harder in other ways.It’s not a matter of cleaning a litter box and playing with him.”

“Isn’t it, though?”I asked, confused.“It doesn’t seem like it would be much different, especially since he’s already grown up once.”

Professor Dunlop chuckled.“Children are an entirely different kettle of fish.”

“Fish?”Aiden interjected.“I thought they were more like dogs.”

“Dragons, maybe,” I added with a chuckle.

“Both,” the professor added with a smile.He nodded at the toy with the sleep spell on it.“That’s a good idea.It only works on small infants, though.We don’t know the effects on his brain when he de-aged, so it might not work for long.”

“Good to know,” Aiden said.

“That’s why I gave you a rocking chair.”

“Thanks.”I peeked into the nursery.“I can’t think of anything else we might need at this point.”

“Your things.Get a few changes of clothing each and toiletries.When you come back, I’ll go get a supply of milk from the kitchens.”The professor took the infant from Aiden.“I’ll get him settled in his crib and analyze his brain.I’m not sure whether I want to hope that he’s still him or that he’s fully reverted to baby state.”He shook his head.

Aiden and I left the wing, and separated to go to our old rooms.

“I’m not sure whether I want this to take a long time, so I can spend more of it with Aiden, or a short time, so I don’t have to deal with a baby,” I muttered to myself as I walked along my hallway.

The instant I opened my door, my friends pounced on me.

“What happened?”

“What’s going on?”

I held up my hands with a chuckle and they quieted.

“I have no idea,” I said.“Strange, I know.”The girls laughed.“Aiden and I are looking after the baby until the professors can cure him.Hopefully, they found Emma and she can tell them what she did.”

“I can’t believe that girl!”Hazel exclaimed, crossing her arms.“Consent aside, this is a major abuse of her magic.She’s going to get herself expelled!”

“Professor Reynolds didn’t want her expelled, that’s why he didn’t come forward before.Hopefully, the others will abide by his wishes until he’s back to normal and can advocate for himself.”I started gathering my things.“I’ll see you girls at breakfast tomorrow.You’re more than welcome to visit our room, obviously.”

“Right, because you and Aiden aren’t going to fuck on every possible surface for the next twelve hours,” Lilia said with a chuckle.

“Of course not!”I said, pretending to be shocked.“There’s a baby next door, and who knows what memories he’ll retain when he returns to normal!”

Lilia waved a hand.“You know the tricks to hide.He won’t notice even if you’re naked on the floor beside his crib.”

I stuck my tongue out at her and held my arms out for hugs.

“See you tomorrow.Wish us luck with the baby.”

“Pshh, you’ll be fine.”Hazel patted my shoulder comfortingly.

I left the room and returned to my new one just in time to see Headmistress Blackthorn leaving.

“I left the list of baby maintenance spells with Mister Evans,” she said.“You’ll get along fine.”Without waiting for a reply, she swooshed past me, her robes billowing in her wake.

I shook my head and pushed open the door.Aiden was sitting at one of the desks, a sheet of paper in his hand.

“These all seem fairly simple,” he said, glancing up at me.“Hopefully, even a sleep-deprived new ‘parent’ can manage them.”

“We’ll find out soon enough,” I said.“Your things are put away already?”

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