See earlier thread for context

The grass had grown again, especially now that Spring had burst through winter's hard earth. The front garden vegetation was heavy with dew where shadows were, and quite lumpy and uneven in places. Still, he'd made some progress in his excursions from Hogwarts in the Spring holiday. Several rooms were freshly painted, and the worst of the roof was patched to keep the worst of the showers out until someone with attention to detail could look into it.

"The grass will need cut, and the roof properly repaired. I will send money to pay any invoice for these by qualified wizards." Ignan explained to his two companions, "unless Gerda is able to do these, I wouldn't want to underestimate your skills." He glanced down to somewhere around his kneecaps where a grey-skinned female elf with watery eyes like crystal balls stood, shivering in a flannel pillowcase on the path.

"Yes Master Storm, Gerda will do her best Sir."

"Make the rest of the building watertight and secure, well, the latter I'll undoubtedly improve when I return after term concludes." Ignan gestured towards the front door with one hand, suggesting neither of his companions were up to the standards of his wards. If he warded it properly, Johann would not be able to get in at all!

"You'll need this." He landed the thick copy of Hargreaves Household Repairs in Johann's hastily outstretched hands and was mildly amused at the fact the weight caused Johann to take a step forward to catch it properly and clasp it to his chest.

"Merlin!"

"And you let me know if he's up to anything in my house that I would frown upon." Ignan's finger pointed from Gerda briefly to remain extended in Johann's direction while he addressed the petite elf by his feet. "No potions, Gerda, and if he protests, take a frying pan to his head and put him to sleep for the night."

"Ignan! That won't be necessary!"

"Certainly Master, young Master Storm will sleep well-."

"Now, don't overly worry yourself Gerda, the threat enough will do." Ignan assured the elf, and shot Johann a smirk. "But if not, you have my full and advance permission to apply the frying pan to the back of his head." Johann's mouth fell open in silent protest again, and it was all worth it, in Ignan's view.

The Hogwarts professor gestured to the house elf who shifted with anticipation of being clobbered on the pathway.
"You know where to find me if you are concerned."
"Yes Master."

He'd still not at all become used to the fact he could summon Gerda at Hogwarts if he needed. The whole habit of having an elf was odd to resume after so many decades of never being somewhere long enough to warrant acquiring one, other than to look after his late father, which Gerda had begun her tenure doing.

Her presence was part of the reason why he felt he could have a house away from Hogwarts, a house elf could look after the property while he was away, and he had a home to fall back on if he realised that Hogwarts wouldn't keep him, if he really did grow tired of it and the students. In his stints back to Godric's Hollow to tend to the property since purchasing it, he'd cut short as darkness had fallen to spend some time slaughtering sheep, in the pursuit of research for Magical Law Enforcement.

"What about your spook?" Johann asked, looking back to the house and clasping the book in both arms, brow furrowed as the breeze caught his curls. The ghost they'd encountered on seeing the house for the first time had put practically any other buyers off. Ignan didn't mind him much, and if he ended up being a pain, there were ways to get rid of ghosts, the real ones much easier than the ones that were in the back of a mind.
 
"He's still there." Ignan raised an eyebrow, wondering how Johann would feel about it, "He can stay there as long as he wants too, he's a very effective unwanted guest deterrent. Besides, you need some company, he's a little more well-read than the elf. All in all, you're fiendishly well catered for, cousin, you shouldn't complain."

The smirk that crossed his features was not mirrored by Johann who was still looking towards the house. But when he glanced back at his relative, the younger wizard mustered a forced smile in return. Ignan tutted and rolled his eyes,

"I'm sure Gerda will protect you from him." The house elf stared up at them both with a confused expression, not understanding what was meant.

"I'll be back unannounced, some days left before the students are under my feet again. Bit of work to be done. But I will drop by during term time, just to check you've not left the front door unlocked and sold the silverware."

"You haven't got any to sell." Johann mock protested, alluding to Ignan's scant furnishings of the house. Anything of sentimental value was safely at Hogwarts, the second academic year teaching there had made him a little more assured in his role, and his personal chambers had seen a few photographs added to the mantlepiece. His office was full of weird and wonderful items from his travels with Georg.

The Defence Professor lifted a set of silver keys from the pocket of his wizard robes and chucked them onto the top of the book in Johann's arms. His cousin scrabbled to catch them between his fingertips before they slid off again.

"Sleep well."

He left Johann with Hargreaves Household Repairs, a set of enchanted keys, and the house elf. Ignan turned on the spot at the garden gate, and vanished with a crack, still smirking.

"Old bastard." Johann uttered alone on the garden path. On seeing Gerda's head snap upwards in his direction like a critical parent, he quickly stepped away, muttering to himself still.
"Better put the kettle on and get acquainted with my new housemate."