Hearing Professor Magnus' voice welcoming her inside, Kurumi jumped to her feet, adjusted her robes to make sure that she looked presentable, and made her way towards the door just in time to hear it click open. Sloooooooowly, Kurumi turned the handle and opened the door, peeking her head inside.

"Good morning, Professor," Kurumi said with a shy smile on her face, stepping into the office fully now.

Ahh, she knew that voice.

Isabelle poked her head out from the walk in cupboard that was her store room, and grinned at Kurumi as she entered the office. "Good morning, Kurumi! Won't be a moment." Shoving the items she had in her hand into the box labelled 'first lesson', Issy picked up the towel nearby and wiped her hands on it. That stuff got everywhere.

Walking out and closing the door behind her, Issy went and sat down in the chair behind her desk, careful not to step on Angel, who was asleep underneath. Gesturing to the seats opposite, she motioned for the Prefect to do the same. "Now, what can I do for you today?" she smiled.


---------------------

There wasn't much time to get an answer though, as there was suddenly another knock at her door. Hmm, she could handle two students - if indeed that's who it was, and how many there were. Hoping Kurumi didn't want to talk privately, she gave the girl an apologetic smile before calling out to whoever was outside.

Kurumi followed the brunette woman's movements and her gaze locked on the box with great interest. "Professor, what is in there?" she asked, knowing full well that it would be a miracle if she were actually given an answer.

Kurumi opened her mouth to respond, but Professor Magnus was already on her way back to the door to invite someone else in. Kurumi DID frown for an instant seeing that one of the questions she had been wanting to ask was deeply personal. Perhaps she could save that for another time and even owl her beforehand.

Kurumi walked over to one of the seats and waiting for Professor Magnus to return to her desk. Whoever it was that had been welcomed into the office, she hoped that it wasn't one of the few people she was trying to avoid.

Putting thoughts regarding her personal question aside for now, Kurumi looked over her shoulder at Professor Magnus. "Professor, you know when you taught us Comletia, and we were able to create whatever our minds could think of out of trash...is there a spell that could...create an oven?" She paused for a moment and thought a bit more. "I am not sure if Comletia is strong enough for it, since we were all making such small items and The Five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law includes life, which I assume would also include energy which is needed to make a proper oven..." The forth year fidgeted in her seat. "I only ask because, um, the house elves have closed off the kitchens." Which made her wonder how Hufflepuffs were getting into their common room. "I went to visit them, there are some that I am rather fond of and often bake with, only to find that they have closed it off to students...and...as selfish as it may be, baking is something I just NEED to be able to do."

She should have known she'd get a question like that. Of course it didn't mean she was going to answer it. Having wiped her hands, Issy tapped the side of her nose. "You'll find out soon," was all she said.

Walking back to her seat, having invited the next person in, Isabelle rested her hand on Kurumi's shoulder momentarily as she passed her. "I hope you don't mind. I don't like leaving people outside for too long." Settling herself down she gave the Gryffindor a smile and waited for the question she'd come to ask, giving a quick glance to the door every so often to see the girl from the corridor enter.

"Ahh yes, the Covadis spell, you mean? Yes I remember," Issy replied, folding her hands across her lap and smiling. Ovens? Well that was...an odd request. Surely she could just use the ones in the kitchens? But back to the first questions. "Well, the energy used to work an oven comes from the electricity put through it - or fire lit under it, depending on where you are. It's not technically within the oven itself. You could produce a very basic, old fashioned oven, and have it work. The sort of energy it uses is not a life form in the way a person has a life energy."

Issy was just about to ask why, when she got the answer. The house elves had shut the kitchens? But that - that never happened. She frowned slightly as she watched Kurumi fidget in her seat, unfolding her hands and straightening herself up as well. "I haven't been down there yet, but I must admit, they seemed a bit....well, not themselves during the feast last night. Whatever it is, I'm sure they'll sort it soon. In the meantime, you are more than welcome to use the practice room to try and produce an oven."

Kurumi's cheeks flushed. Oops. She had wanted to sound intelligent and instead looked ridiculous mixing up the spell to transfigure things into a compass and Covadis. They both started with a C and sounded similar, right? At least she had made the mistake now instead of on hew OWLs next term, right? That could have been a real disaster.

"So, using...Corvadis," she took the extra effort to make sure she repeated the spell. "I could create an oven? I would need a rather large object to transfigure for that, right?" No empty chocolate frog box would do for this task. Then, there was also the issue of where she could put the oven and the fire. The first place that came to mind, one where there were always burners available, was the one place in Hogwarts that she really did not want to visit in her free time.

However, her question was soon answered by Professor Magnus and her eyes lit up. "REALLY?!" she chirped, clapping her hands together. That also mean that she could bake in there, right? She had to test the oven to make sure that it worked after all. But then her attention was brought back to the house elves and her smile faded slightly. "It just seems odd that creatures with such extraordinary magical abilities would have so much trouble..."

She fidgeted in her seat a bit, glancing over her shoulder to see if the other student had come in yet.

"Actually, professor, I would like to discuss another matter with you, but I think a later date would be best...it is...kind of personal..."

Isabelle noticed the blush, and felt slightly bad for correcting the girl. But it was better that she got it right now and remembered, than get it wrong when it really mattered. She didn't, however, bring attention to it.

Instead she nodded along as Kurumi responded to her reply. "Big, yes. Certainly while you're first trying to get it right. The less you have to change the proportions the better for you. I would suggest you go for an old style light-a-fire-underneath it, though, considering we don't have electricity in the castle." Or the magic that the house elves had to make theirs work constantly.

And her idea for using the practice room certainly seemed to be a good one - judging by the excitement it caused. Plus it meant that Issy could keep an eye on proceedings during the trial and error stage. "Yes, really," she smiled, chuckling slightly at the loudness of it. "There is a special area in the corner of the room, charmed to stop fire spreading. You can place the finished oven in there when lighting it." But her frown came back when they continued with the house elf talk. She was just as keen to know what was wrong as the Prefect was - but she also didn't want to interfere with them. "Everyone can have an off day, I suppose," she shrugged. "Even creatures as powerful magically as a house elf."

The Gryffindor did seem mighty fidgety today. Whether that was entirely down to her concern for the elves or not, Issy wasn't sure. But the fact she wanted to talk about something personal might have explained it. And Isabelle had only gone and invited someone else in. Fail. "I see. Well in that case, yes, another date," she looked across at the door, waiting for the next student in. "Perhaps a quiet corner of the grounds would be better? I might have a constant stream of students in my office."

Kurumi scratched her had as she tried to think of something big enough that she could try to transfigure into an oven. She supposed that she could always empty her trunk and drag that down to the practice room. It was big and bulky, just like an oven was.

While she was thinking about big items, perhaps a sofa from the common room as well, Professor Magnus spoke again. "Oh yes, I remember that circle," she giggled. It was a good thing it had been there too or else her and Jenny probably would have burned down the practice room trying to make smores. "I may be back to the practice room later today. I should head back to the common room for a bit to check on things." Like making sure that the first year twins were not strangling each other...

"I suppose you're right," Kurumi sighed with a slight shoulder shrug. House elves having an off day seemed like it was possible, but was that forcing human emotions onto a creature? Kurumi often did that with cats and dogs, and her brothers were always teasing her for it, but wasn't that the same as saying that an orange tasted like a banana if you painted it yellow? Didn't make her any less worried about them.

Kurumi nodded and then blushed a bit when it was suggested that perhaps they meet somewhere else at Hogwarts. Kurumi had never done that before with a professor, besides Professor Bentley in the greenhouses, but that wasn't too much of a stretch from he usual office now was it? "I-I don't want to take up too much of your time..." she stammered. "But I really would appreciate it."

Yes, the circle was certainly handy. Issy was grateful that her predecessor had put it there. Well, she was assuming it was him, it wasn't there when she was a student - but she was digressing in her head now. Back to the conversation. "It is very handy to have, I must admit," Issy smiled, leaning back in her seat. What with some of the students they had in this school. She nodded at the mention of checking on things. She had more people to see and things to do, so Issy knew how the new Prefect felt. "Just let me know if you need me for anything when you're in there."

Well Issy hoped she was right. She hated to think anything bad was going on with the house elves. Just imagining that they were ultra busy made her feel a bit calmer. But why they were seeing as, like Kurumi said, they were so powerful, remained a mystery. Not being able to think of anything else to say on the matter, for fear of making the Prefect even more worried, Issy just smiled and tilted her head.

But then they were back to the personal matter, and Isabelle noticed the blush. "Oh, don't you worry about that. Just push a note under my door telling me where and when, and I'll try my best to be there on time. I'm always ready to listen to any problems, or questions, a student might have." Just call her 'Dear Isabelle'. Getting up out of her seat, Issy walked over to where Kurumi was sitting and smiled at her. "Don't let me keep you now though - with your Prefectorly duties." A little wink followed that. She was going to be a very good prefect. Issy could feel it.

"Thank you, professor," Kurumi said with a nod, closing their conversation about her using the practice room to attempt her cookie baking without use of the kitchen quest. The Transfiguration practice room was used much less than the Room of Requirement, so she shouldn't get in anyone's way. Now it was a matter of transfiguring something of that size. In class, it has always been small things - worms into nails, pocket watches into compasses, cats into hats not cats in hats - but now she was going to attempt to transfigure something larger into something big. Hopefully she didn't melt her trunk beyond repair in the process... "I will be sure to come knock on your door if I, erm, have any problems."

Kurumi then blushed a bit more when Professor Magnus told her to just slip a note under her door. That seemed...so informal, but she supposed that was better than sending an owl from the Owlery down. The owl probably wouldn't appreciate being made to do such a menial task. Not really knowing what else to say, Kurumi nodded her head.

"I suppose I should get going," she said glancing at the door. "Before I came down, Josh was trying to handle a fight between two first year twins by telling them to stop tackling each other and try to take him on. I just hope the common room as survived..."

Kurumi rose stood up and brushed her skirt down to try and remove some of the creases that had formed from sitting.

"Thank you again for your time and I will be sure to leave you a note soon," she chirped, adding a small bow at the end. "I am really looking forward to your lessons, you have no idea how terrifying classes were last term."

And with that, Kurumi took her leave and walked out the door.

Maxwell entered the room. "Thank You for meeting with me Professor. I was interested in becoming an Animagus. I wanted to know if there was anything i could learn now to help with that and/or what marks I'll need to learn other that taking Your class at a NEWT level." Maxwell said with much confidence He was amazed how grown-up he felt.

That was quick. It seemed mere seconds that Mathias had sat down and now the Professor was at the door calling... all three of them in? Oh... he sorta thought that each of them would have individual time with the professor, but he supposed she was really busy so she had to manage her time before class. That made sense. Well, his question wasn't exactly personal, but he really didn't want to ask it in front of the other students. He was sure they would think him dumb. But he supposed he didn't have much choice - he needed to talk to the professor and now was the time to do it.

After a moment's hesitation, he followed one of the other boys into Professor Magnus' office. Matty would at least wait until that boy was finished with his question before he asked his. He was thinking Newt level already?, he thought as he overhead the boy. Wow, that kid must be really smart... a thought that only made the first year even more nervous to ask what he needed.

Well now. Isabelle had barely sat back down in her seat than the first boy started talking. And it was one of the young ones, too. Wanting to be an Animagus. This was not a question she expected so early in the term. She gestured for all of them to take a seat, before realising that there were not enough for 3 people. Quickly flourishing her wand, Issy produced a small chair and placed it, with a smile, alongside the others.

Getting herself comfortable in her own chair, she folded her arms. "Studying to become an Animagus is an extremely long and tiring process, you know. It takes a lot of skill, determination and will. Very few who start actually complete it. My first question would have to be: how dedicated to it are you?" Because there was no point in her giving him a whole list of things to study unless he was really sure. And she knew for a fact it was hard. Isabelle herself had tried and failed to get through all the reading work it required.

Her eyes fell on the other young boy, a Ravenclaw judging by the robes. He looked a little surprised at the Animagus talk, too. Issy gave him a small smile of reassurance. He was next on the talk-to list when she had finished speaking with the other young man.

Maxwell took a seat and very confident and grown up for a first year said "Yes, Professor. I am dedicated, even if i don't succeed i would rather try than give up. I'm know I'm young but I'm also very determined."

Well, Isabelle had to admit, that he did sound determined. Now. Once he'd started the learning process though anything could happen. "I don't want to discourage you....Umm, I didn't catch your name, I'm sorry," she said, pausing just long enough for him to tell her if he wanted. "If it's something you wish to try. However at your current age, and with the fact you are inexperienced in the tricky spell work that becoming an Animagus requires - well, I suggest for now you just read up on the theory part."

Isabelle pulled a piece of parchment forward and took one of her quills out of the stationary holder on her desk. Scribbling a few quick notes, she pushed it across to the desk towards the boy. "These are a couple of books that can give you some information. Or at least, as much as you should be learning as an eleven year old. 'Animagus: An Early Learners Guide', by Floriana Finklebottom, and 'Animagus: Are you sure? It's not easy!', by Henrick Rufflestein." She certainly wasn't going to let him do anything on the practical side, goodness no. They'd end up with some weird looking, and damaged, human/animal hybrid. "You should be able to find them in the normal section of the library," she smiled. Restricted was a no-no anyway.

Amy had been allowed in. She didn't know whether this was a bad sign, or if she should feel patronised. Uhm...Slowly, the potato made her way into the room, her loose hair bouncing slightly, a comb stuck in it at the back. Yes, she looked slightly ridiculous, but it looked better for her argument. Amy kept her head down as she shuffled her small feet over to the professor, staring intently at the yellow of her tie. It wasn't until she was infront of the desk, she spoke, still looking at her feet/tie

Professor, I wanted to appologise for my rudeness earlier

There. That was a good start. The difficult bit was keeping her tone polite and not retorting or pulling faces...she was certainly not out of the woods yet

Maxwell brightened up. "Thank You, Professor! I'll do my research. oh and how rude of Me, my name is Maxwell Evans. It's very nice to meet You." Maxwell said trying hard not to sound like he was kissing up.

Raven entered the office after professor Magnus allowed her. Her office looked cozy.

"Thank you for your time, Professor. I hope I don't bother you, now." said her.

Oh, look who it was. Argumentative girl from earlier at the swimming pond.

Isabelle sat down in her seat and folded her fingers across her chest. She really was waiting for the girl to get all stroppy again, but it actually didn't happen. Instead she...apologised? Unexpected. Studying the Hufflepuff's face, Issy frowned. Did she really mean it though? Hmm. "Well, thank you, I accept," she said slowly. "Please remember though that when a person in authority asks you to do something, whether or not you agree with it, or like it, you do it." That, unfortunately for the students, was the way school - and work - worked.

Issy stopped talking and waited. Did she want to say anything else?

"Not at all, what can I do for you?" Isabelle smiled brightly at the Slytherin and offered them a seat. She liked meeting new students. Especially polite and well behaved ones.


-------------------------------------
"Very nice to meet you, too, Mister Evans," Issy said, smiling at the boy as he took the parchment she'd given him. "If there is anything else you wish to know in the future, after you've finished the reading, you know where to find me." Here, in the classroom, in the practice room....somewhere about the school in general. She wasn't hard to find, really.

"Thank You very much, Professor. I'll be sure to let You know if I have questions." He smiled and headed for the library.

"But first, I will introdcue myself first. I am Raven Charlotte, first year. Ehm.. Actually, I am interested to become an animagus, Professor. Maybe I am too young make this decision. But.. I have an elder brother, who is an animagus too and he said that being animagus its not easy. So, my question is, when is the right time for me to learn to be an animagus? I mean, to become an animagus, Is there required age for it?" asked Raven.

Another one wanting to know about being an Animagus. What was with kids these days? They obviously liked the hard work.

"Well, welcome Raven. To answer your question - first year is too young to start any practical things towards becoming an Animagus. I wouldn't start with anyone below a fifth year." Mainly because she wouldn't want them hurting themselves, which was a distinct possibility. Plus it was school policy anyway.

"But I can give you some book titles to look up in the library for some reading." She scribbled down the same ones she'd given the other boy a few days before. They were the most helpful ones she knew of. "Here we go," she said, sliding the paper over.

"They should give you some basic knowledge, the right sort for your age." Isabelle smiled and sat back into her chair.

Raven listened the explanation from professor Magnus carefully. Wow, Being animagus is need a long learn and process. I know that's not easy. she thought.

"I see, Professor. I'll be waiting until my age is enough to learn it. I will get the books at library. Thank you for your time, Professor." said Raven politely.

"You are most welcome. Happy reading." Isabelle smiled at the girl as she watched her leave the room. Now then, what was she doing? Hmm, planning.

Minerva walked into Professor Magnus' office. She had never been in a professors office yet so she was very nervous. As she walked in she started her nervous tendency of twisting her hair with her finger. Now that she had made it shorter it was harder to twist. "Hello Professor, I hope you don't mind me stopping by. I was hoping to get the names of those book titles from you. The ones we talked about in class, about Metamorphmagus?"