A Fork in the Road

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter...plain and simple.



WARNING: This story contains MAJOR INCEST! If you don\'t like it, don\'t read it!



A/N: Hopefully if you didn\'t like the last chapter, this one will make you smile just a little!





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Chapter Seventeen: A Surprise for Kicks



Since the day Harry had told Avery that they couldn’t be together anymore, it felt to her as though time had picked up its pace. June was nearing and exams were already in session. By this time, Avery was already passed the halfway mark of her pregnancy and only had four more months until the baby would be born.



Although the clocks seemed to tick faster, the days were growing longer as Avery’s sixth year was coming to a close. The rumors Avery anticipated about her pregnancy did find their way around the castle shortly after she found out that she would be having a child, but they had ceased drastically around exam time. The bigger her stomach grew, the less rumors there were. Everyone was now treating her like a queen, especially Riley.



There was only a few minutes remaining in Avery’s final N.E.W.T. exam for Defense Against the Dark Arts and she was busy scribbling away on her parchment. For the most part, the exam had been pretty easy, but Avery knew that her excellent defense skills had been gifted to her by her father.



“Time’s up,” came the professor’s voice. “Put your quills down and look up.”



Avery set her quill down at the corner of her desk and then rested her head on her hands, looking up at the professor. The stout witch came around and collected everyone’s parchment and brought it back up to her desk.



“Alright, your N.E.W.T. exams have ended. You are dismissed.”



Some people cheered, but Avery simply got up slowly, using the back of her desk for support.



“Av! Be careful! Ugh! You always scare me the way you get up all the time,” Maria wheezed as she caught up to her friend.



“Well, do you want me to just sit down forever? I have to get up sometime, don’t I?” Avery asked, a mocking grin spreading across her face.



“I just meant to not strain your back or something,” Maria replied as the two girls filed out of the classroom. “It’s so great to be done with exams, isn’t it?”



“It definitely takes off some unnecessary stress,” Avery admitted as she held her back with her hand as they walked down the corridor in the direction of the Great Hall.



“See! You did hurt your back, didn’t you?” Maria asked in a scolding tone.



“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Maria!” Avery remarked, giggling slightly. “I’m just massaging it. It grew numb sitting in that exam for so long. You know, you’re really starting to sound like my mother.”



“Well, I worry about you, Av, I mean, you’re practically my sister so I have to watch out for you.”



“I know,” Avery said in an understanding voice, “you just make me laugh at how fussy you are about this whole thing.”



Maria crossed her arms playfully and both girls giggled as they passed the Great Hall and headed outside into the bright, sunny day.



The sunlight hit Avery’s face like a sheet, comforting and warm against her slightly pale skin. She closed her eyes and smiled while inhaling deeply before stepping down the stairs. As soon as she had opened her eyes, she saw Riley.



“Hey, ladies,” he said casually, making his way up the steps.



“Hi, dear,” Avery said rubbing her stomach. “We just got out of our last N.E.W.T.” Riley reached them and kissed the top of Avery’s head.



“Yeah, I got done with mine a few minutes ago, too. That Potions one was really hard.”



“Oh, really? I didn’t think it was bad at all,” Maria said, entering the conversation.



“I struggled with it,” Riley admitted and Avery watched as his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “But let’s not talk about that. How are you feeling, babe?”



“I feel fine…normal if you will,” Avery remarked, smiling up at Riley. She had not forgotten her father for one second since the day they had broken their relationship off. In fact, he occurred in her mind more often. She had been so successful at pretending to be in love with Riley, that she didn’t even need to think about it anymore. She had become immune to the repulsiveness of it and now it was simply a task she was doing for her father.



“I think I want to go for a swim,” Avery said.



“Sounds fun,” Riley commented. “I’ll summon our suits and then we can—”



“I mean, I think I want to go alone,” Avery interrupted. She watched Riley’s face contort into a frown of confusion.



“Why alone, baby?”



“I would just like a little ‘me time’ if that’s alright with you both,” Avery replied looking at Riley and Maria for approval. “I’ve just been through a lot and have had a lot on my mind the past few months is all.”



Maria nodded and Riley nodded along a few seconds later.



“Are you sure you’ll be alright swimming alone?” Riley asked sounding concerned.



“I’ll be fine, Riley. You both need to stop worrying so much.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek, then turned to walk down the remainder of the steps to go to the lake.



When her friends had disappeared from view behind the trees, Avery looked forward and saw the black lake glistening in the sunlight. The waters looked inviting and as Avery checked to make sure no one was around, she undressed and waded in.



Although the day was warm, the temperature of the water was a bit chilly. She felt the goose bumps run up and down her body as she went further into the water. The sand on the bottom of the lake was a bit murky, and as soon as Avery was far enough out to not touch the icky bottom, she lifted her legs off the ground and began to swim. She swam on her back, treaded water, and tried to float. The sun was still shining brightly and Avery was enjoying submerging herself under the cool water.



After a few moments, Avery heard a voice behind her.



“You shouldn’t be out here alone.”



She turned her gaze upon the man standing on the edge of the shore. His black untidy hair was going every which way and his green eyes were sparkling behind his round glasses.



“Hi daddy!” Avery said, swimming towards him. “What are you doing here?”



“Just checking up on my gorgeous daughter, is that alright?”



“Of course it’s alright. It’s a lovely surprise!”



“You’re a lovely surprise. I didn’t think I would be so lucky as to find you swimming naked,” Harry said suggestively giving Avery a smirk.



“Oh, you are full of it,” she teased. She got to where she could touch again and then stood up. She watched Harry’s eyes dart to her stomach and smile.



“You are so beautiful pregnant,” he said giving her a smile. He made a towel appear out of thin air and handed it to Avery as she walked out of the water.



“Thank you,” she said gratefully, taking it from him. “It’s mostly your doing, though.”



Harry chuckled. She loved the way his voice was so deep and hoarse when he laughed. Avery dried herself then quickly dressed again. Harry had turned away.



“You know, Avery, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since we both left that day at the Shrieking Shack. I didn’t want to come see you during school because I didn’t want to affect the plan of you being with Riley. I’m still crazy about you, though,” he said turning towards Avery now. She felt a jolt in her stomach and she knew it wasn’t the baby. She walked over to him and took his hand in hers. She ran her fingers around his gently while staring up into his beautiful emerald spheres.



“I’m crazy about you, too, dad.” She paused. “You have no idea how hard it was for me to force myself to sleep with him. I cried myself to sleep afterwards because I felt like I had cheated on you. I’ve been feeling it ever since, but I constantly am reminding myself that it’s for you.”



The sound of nature filled in for the silence between father and daughter. Two sets of green eyes were peering into the other; wanting; needing; and unable to possess the other.



“Avery,” Harry whispered, breaking the silence. “I love you. I always have and I always will, you know that. And I just want you to know that no matter what happens or what doesn’t happen to us in the future, that you’ll always be my number one girl and you’ll always be the one that gives me butterflies. You’re the only one that has my heart and I am always going to be there for you when you need me. I’ll always be your shoulder to cry on, and I just wish the best for you because you don’t deserve anything less.”



Avery couldn’t help the tears that were spilling down her cheeks. She wanted to just kiss her father in that moment, but knew it was too risky and that someone might see them.



“I don’t know what to say,” she whimpered. “I feel the same way. You know I love you with all I am.”



“I know,” Harry replied huskily. Avery felt his strong, warm arms embrace her and hold her. She cried onto his shoulder, leaving tearstains on his shirt, but she knew that he wouldn’t care. She squeezed him back and then let go.



“I should probably go back up so Maria and Riley don’t worry about me,” she said, wiping her eyes.



“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea. I have to get back to work, too. I just wanted to stop in and check on you two,” Harry said putting his hand on Avery’s stomach. She placed her hand on his, and all of a sudden, she felt a kick.



“Ooh!” Harry had obviously felt it, too.



“That was a kick, wasn’t it?!” He asked excitedly. Avery nodded and the baby kicked again. She laughed.



“It kind of tickles,” she said giggling. Harry looked up at her and smiled.



“God you are so beautiful,” he whispered, taking his hand away and putting it on her face.



Avery felt herself suddenly heat up and it wasn’t due to the sunrays beaming down on her. Harry leaned in and grazed his lips against hers, sending chills down her spine. All the four months she had been kissing Riley and pretending it was Harry made her almost forget what it felt like to feel the real lips against hers. She had forgotten how elevated she felt when he kissed her, and she realized, now, just how bad she had missed him.





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A/N: Well, how did everyone like this chapter\'s turnout? Decent, eh? I think so! Well, anyway, hope you keep reviewing! I love hearing what everyone thinks! I would like to see a few extra reviews if I can...just cuz they make me happy! But either way, THANKS to everyone who is dedicated to reading this story!

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