Chapter Text
Harry had just wanted to get away from England. He packed up the limited belongings he had, grabbed the leather jacket his godfather loved wearing, the pocket watch the Remus always seems to have on him, and most importantly, Sirius' bike that had been left to him in his will along with everything in Grimmauld Palace since he was the heir, now Lord, of the estate. Which meant Kreacher was coming with him since the, slightly more docile, house elf didn't want to leave Harry and Teddy alone.
Which Harry was grateful for, because for all that the house elf can be insane, he does know how to child-rear and Harry was 17 years old taking care of a two month old when he made the decision to move.
He was over Britain and their backward ways. Apparently the saying of one step forward and three steps back was quite accurately even with Hermione and Kingsley trying their hardest to stop it from happening as proposals about restricting muggleborns and purebloods were often appealed to the Wizengamot. When Harry kept getting hounded by reporters, he knew he didn't want Teddy to live his life in the spotlight and constantly having the watch over their shoulders.
Andy had gently pushed him to making the decision, saying that give her a couple of months and she'd join him as soon as the laws being proposed cooled down. Considering she held his seats considering he knew nothing about politics, he fully understood her decision and would let her grieve for the given months until she joined them.
Which left him to where he was now, in a suburban home in the humidity filled night of Nevada. Apparently having a 8am flight from the UK meant it was near midnight by the time he touched down in Nevada. He forgot time differences were a thing.
Sighing and making sure Teddy was asleep in the baby wrap he had around his chest, despite feeling a bit foolish wearing it, he entered his new three bedroom home and found the furniture he shopped with Andy and Kreacher already set up.
Having only seen pictures of the place, Harry let his backpack that had a few things for baby Teddy and a few things for himself for the flight by the door, letting Kreacher take care of it as he made his way upstairs.
The air in Nevada was...weird. Harry always thought the magic in England was wild, but in Nevada where the magical community was limited? It felt positively insane. Harry was good at wandless magic before, but now he just had to flick his finger with barely a thought and his magic surged to help him. Maybe his magic had been stifled from Voldemort, but in any case, Harry found himself having to redo spells from first year after he did a simple Windgardium Leviosa and his spell sent a feather through the ceiling of Grimmauld Palace.
Harry hadn't even know it was possible for a feather to break through a ceiling until he accidently did it.
But Nevada had a strange power, and his magic was positively beaming with happiness about it. It felt like it was healing cracks in Harry's soul he hadn't even known existed, he felt more like himself and stable.
Feeling exhausted as his mind swirled too much, Harry found Teddy's bedroom and placed the tike in his crib with many alarms and diagnostic charms hanging around him. Careful with his magic, he made sure it stayed away from the mobile above the crib and carefully transferred the two month old into the crib without waking him up.
As soon as Harry's arms retracted from Teddy, he held his breath as Teddy shifted, his nose scrunching like he was going to wake up because he wasn't surrounded by his favorite person.
Alarm and already feeling tears at the thought of Teddy crying again, Harry's magic surged and settled in the air around Teddy like a warm hug.
Teddy's face instantly relaxed and the baby settled down. With relief that Teddy wasn't going to wake up screaming his head off like he has in the past, Harry stared at the sleeping baby, feeling regret that Remus or Tonks couldn't be here and watch their child.
He knows he should go sleep, he's been awake from nightmares for too long as it was, but he pulled the rocking chair just a bit closer to Teddy and sat in it. Watching Teddy until the loll of the rocking chair and Teddy's soft little sleep noises had him falling asleep.
It took six months before Harry finally started working on Sirius' bike. Mostly because he had no idea what he was doing and figured learning from a mechanic would be the better option. Plus, Andy and him finally had a system where, because the Wizengamot was still being idiots, she would stay until the next meeting. Helping with Teddy with Kreacher's help while Harry was pushed out of the house because dammit he was 17 years old and shouldn't have to full-time care for a child while neglecting his own needs.
Harry didn't really know what that meant, but he took the time to find a shop and learn from a kind man who ran the shop by himself with only one other person who was part-time.
James was nice, even if Harry thought of his own father anytime he had to call the man, but it was good he was the exact opposite of his father. All blond hair, blue eyes, and American accent, his demeanor was more Remus Lupin than Sirius Black or James Potter. Often kind with gentle calculated words, but fiercely protective of those he cares about as his six year old daughter can attest after having been bullied by a couple other girls at school.
Harry hated to admit he liked the man and was so very thankful for him teaching Harry even if Harry was learning and helping the man for free since he doesn't exactly need the money and the man was tight with the amount he can give out. Which is why he only had one employee who was part-time.
It gave Harry something to do, which was what was important. So Harry spent his time between helping James at the shop, home helping Andy with Teddy, and finally working on Sirius' bike.
Eventually, nearly six months later and after celebrating his 18th birthday, Harry tried the transmission of the bike for the first time. Frustrated when nothing happened but a few kick starts. After checking and not finding anything wrong, Harry smacked the counsel frustrated and nearly in tears as this was his godfather's bike dammit.
He hadn't felt it because he was so upset, but his magic which has become slightly twisted, but stronger the longer he was in Nevada had surged into the bike counsel and awoken something that wasn't there before.
All it took was just the barest of sparks. And the bike that had been previously magical surged alive.
Harry was startled when the biked purred away underneath him, but felt hope surge through him. After informing Andy he was going for a drive, Harry threw on a helmet, made sure Sirius' leather jacket was zipped up, had his wallet on him, and then hopped onto the bike to take it for its very first test drive.
With the wind flowing through him, Harry freely laughed for the first time since the battle of Hogwarts. Feeling alive for the very first time. It was just him, the road, and his bike. He revved the engine and went faster.