36
Harry wanted the tent up again, pointing out how large the back yard was and Ianto sighed as Jack felt he was duty bound to back Harry up, hero pose and all.
The tent was soon up and Ianto was not as surprised as he thought he should be when the doorbell announced Owen's arrival.
The fact Owen had a backpack and two supermarket bags full of camping food a wee bit of a giveaway that Jack had made a phone call while setting up the tent.
"Oh! Blinder!" Owen crowed as he plunged inside and Ianto calmly hung up the leather coat Owen had dropped by the sofa.
Doorbell.
Ianto let Rhys in and he barely said 'hi' as he rushed through the house and stood at the tent flaps trying to work out how it worked.
"Bigger on the inside!" Owen yelled from inside and Rhys laughed.
Harry poked his head out and grinned, "Come inside, Daddy has beds up!"
"Beds? Beds?" Rhys stammered and he disappeared from view as Ianto shook his head.
Ianto was humming as he wandered through his house, looking for … something.
He had a weird feeling, had been feeling it all day.
Someone was trying to get in.
Several times his enchantments had been tested and as he wondered what he might have missed, the answer came by way of owl.
His pet landed and shook angrily, the house elf squeaking as he flew across the room to land at Ianto's feet.
"Splat?"
"Sorry master, I am a silly boy" the elf whimpered.
"What on earth are you doing here!" Ianto knelt and looked at the elf more closely.
"Splat? My god, you look half starved" Ianto said softly, reaching out to pet the elf and it whimpered with fear then smiled as it recognized Ianto's touch.
"I have been on the ownership of Ms Lastrange, master" Splat whined, "She kept me on a box. Only now, has she left me out, then left the house. I am very naughty to leave but … I …."
"It's OK Splat" Ianto gathered the poor elf into his arms and squeezed gently.
"Oh master," the shaking elf calmed and relaxed against Ianto's chest, "I have found you."
"You still won't accept freedom, will you!" Ianto sighed.
"Oh master, I live only to serve you, please let me serve you" Splat was begging, little eyes turned up, reminding Ianto of Puss in Boots from the Shrek movie they had watched the night before.
"Of course you can stay here" Ianto relented, "Lots of mess with a child about the house."
"Child?" Splat asked with glee.
At that moment Harry ran into the house and showed Ianto a flower for the garden, "Taddy! Look!"
"Oh darling, pretty" Ianto enthused as Splat gaped at the child.
Harry gaped back.
"Oh, hello" Harry smiled as he looked at the little elf, almost to his chest.
"Oh! A little master!" Splat cried excitedly, reaching out a spindly hand to touch Harry's face. Harry beamed as he looked at Ianto for guidance.
"This is Spat. He's a house elf. He likes to tidy and stuff" Ianto smiled, "He is our friend."
Harry took this as agreement and threw his arms around the hapless elf, kissing his face as he declared him a fine friend.
"Friend." Splat said with confusion.
"Yes, we can play and eat stuff and watch telly and if you like to tidy, then you tidy the big mess we make" Harry laughed, "Oh, I make real big messes that Taddy hates!"
"Oh! Good!" the elf said happily.
"Oh Splat, you are just what I need" Harry said as he led him outside to the tent.
Ianto sat calmly on the sofa and watched through the windows as Harry dragged the elf into the tent.
Rhys exploded from the flaps, wind milling his arms as he screamed and Owen raced after him, so busy looking back that he ran onto Rhys and they wound up on the ground.
Jack, Harry and Splat exited the tent and looked down at the two men in the ground with what can only be described as disappointment.
Silly boys.
Ianto leaned back and groaned.
Bloody wizarding world.
It gets in like damp.