A Fork in the Road

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Harry Potter...it\'s all J.K. Rowling (lucky girl she is). I only own my characters Avery, Riley, Maria, and Jordan. And the plot, of course :)



WARNING: This story contains incest.



A/N: Hey everyone! I\'m actually updating this for my girlfriend who just gave me the copy so here it is for everyone! More at the end...for now, read, review, and ENJOY!!





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Chapter Two: Settling In

As Harry shuffled through all the people in King’s Cross on his way out to his car, he heard a familiar voice call above the heads of the people he was trying to squeeze through.



“Harry! Wait up!”



Harry turned, rising on the balls of his feet to see over the crowd, and saw Ron and Hermione making their way toward him. He smiled.



Harry had been friends with Ron and Hermione since his first year at Hogwarts. He had met Ron prior to meeting Hermione at the very station he was standing in now. He had remembered as though it were yesterday, how he had struggled to find the platform nine and three quarters, feeling like a complete idiot after asking one of the men that worked at the station where it could be located. Molly Weasley, Ron’s mother, had told him how to board the platform by running straight at the wall. Harry laughed to himself being caught up in his reverie, when a woman’s voice broke his train of thought.



“We thought we might find you here,” Hermione said with a huge grin, standing on her tip-toes to wrap her arms around Harry’s neck for a hug. Harry returned the hug, rubbing her back.



“And, indeed, you have found me,” Harry stated grabbing Ron’s hand and shaking it, as gentlemen do. “Sorry I didn’t get to writing you back about coming for dinner the other night; I just had a lot on my mind.” Harry shifted from one foot to the other.



“Oh, don’t even worry about it,” Hermione began, “we ended up going out for a bite to eat, just Ron and me. It was nice; the kids were away, so it was a rather relaxing evening.” Ron nudged Harry mouthing with his lips, “After we had sex.” Harry smiled once more. The thought of sex immediately distracted him. Avery...



“Harry?”



Harry shook his head, and focused on the red-head talking in front of him.



“Sorry, Ron, I’m really tired,” Harry lied. “You were saying…”



“I was just saying that if you wanted to have dinner with us soon, just come over and we three can have a cookout or something, oh, and don’t forget to say hi to Avery for us,” Ron uttered patting Harry on the back and leading him out the door.



God, just the sound of her name makes me crazy. I wish I was seeing her sooner than Christmas.



As the three friends staggered out the door, being shoved here and there by people late for their trains, they each approached their cars.



“Well, send Hedwig around sometime and let us know when you want to get together. We’ll see you later, Harry,” Ron said smiling as he and Hermione hopped into the car.



“See you,” Harry replied giving a slight wave, then turned to look at Kings Cross Station, missing his baby girl already.



“What do you think about this one?” Avery was pointing to a white bikini in a magazine that she and Maria Weasley were looking in called “Suits for Suitable Witches,” when the door to the train opened. It was Riley Longbottom.



“Hi you sexy lady,” he said closing the door and flashing the brightest of smiles.



“Hey baby,” Avery’s smooth voice came. She looked up momentarily, smiled at him, and went back to the suit she was observing. She felt a light peck of Riley’s lips on the top of her head. She smiled a second time, this time, keeping her eye on the page.



“I think it’s the perfect one,” Maria chimed in, crossing her legs and taking a sip of her tea. Avery scratched the back of her neck, finally looking up at Riley feeling helpless.



“I can’t decide whether I like the white one or the green one better,” Avery sighed leaning her head back against the seat, closing her eyes. Riley grasped the magazine from Avery’s hands and looked at the two suits.



“I think the white one, you know why? Because once you’re wet, you’ll be able to see every outline of everything,” he smirked setting the magazine delicately back into Avery’s lap.



“Ha Ha, very funny,” Avery uttered rolling her eyes taking the magazine back up in her hands. She scanned the next few pages roughly before closing the magazine making it final of what suit she would order.



“I’m getting the green one,” she declared standing up to stretch, putting her arms over her head, exposing her belly button, and noticing that Riley was watching to see how far her shirt would go up.



“Why the green one?” Riley asked as though it were the most confusing of situations.



“My dad says green looks really good on me, and flatters my green eyes,” she said beaming proudly. She heaved a heavy sigh and wondered why she cared what her father thought over her own boyfriend. She shrugged it off. Must be because dad has a much better taste in clothing, or maybe it’s because Riley’s idea of fashion is no clothes.



The train had been running smoothly for about a few hours, and Avery curled up in a little ball in the corner by the window, watching the beautiful green trees, as the train rolled rhythmically down the tracks as though the wheels were sharpened skates on ice; having the cutting edge making the path smooth, unlined, and soothingly quiet. Maria had taken out a book, had her headphones on, and had fallen asleep with her glasses crooked. Riley, however, had left an hour ago.



Despite the fact that Riley was gorgeous, flattering, sweet, and generous to Avery, he was also very arrogant, rude, argumentative, at times a bit too dominative for others. Most of the time, Avery was positive that they would last for a long time, but riding on the train this time, she had grown unsure than anything. She seemed less interested in him since the summer, and doubted whether they would last the first month back at school. Besides, she really needed to focus on her schooling, and her father had been the influential factor about her persistence in continuing to get good marks.



The train ride, for Avery, had been quiet for the most part, other than a few games of chess, and having short on and off conversations with Maria. She liked that in a way. To her, the train ride was a soothing mechanism, a place where she could be alone, even though the whole school was on the train. But it was a place where she could just ease her mind and body from everything. Watching the green valleys and trees roll by the window allowed Avery to be calm and feel extremely free.



As the train rolled to a stop, everyone, including Avery, had started gathering their on-board belongings. Avery grabbed her purse and magazine and headed out the door, Maria following behind her. The girls, along with Riley and Jordan, made their way down the steps of the train, stepping onto the hard pavement. The four sauntered up to the castle, and entered through the massive oak doors into Hogwarts.



Avery noticed a few new paintings on the wall, but besides that and the fact that the school was more noticeably clean, Hogwarts was still the same. Avery loved it here. She had two of her greatest friends, plus some, and enjoyed learning new magic everyday, and also participating on the Quidditch team as captain and seeker. Her father had taught her all he knew.



“I don’t want to listen to the damn sorting song or watch those pathetic little first years get sorted,” Avery heard Riley groan.



“It doesn’t take as long as you boys drag it out to be. If you wouldn’t complain about it, it would take much less time,” Avery reassured him. “And don’t forget, you were one of those pathetic little first years, Riley,” Avery giggled to herself readjusting her purse strap on her shoulder.



As she entered the Great Hall, Avery noticed that much of the Gryffindor table was full.



“Where are we going to sit?” She mumbled to herself, scanning up and down the table to see if she would find a spot for all four of them to be seated.



“C’mon, I see a spot,” Jordan said pointing in the direction of the front of the table. The four of them strolled up to the spot and noticed that there were only three available seats.



“I’ll go sit somewhere else,” Avery offered turning to head back in the opposite direction, when she felt a hand on hers.



“That’s all right, Av, I will,” Riley smiled at her. He kissed her cheek lightly and went to find another place to sit while Avery accompanied Jordan and Maria at the table, turning her head in the direction of the sorting hat.



After the sorting hat had sung its song, and the first years had successfully been placed in their houses, it was time for dinner. Avery noticed that her appetite had somehow decreased, and so she only had a dinner roll with a glass of pumpkin juice.



“I heard that the first Quidditch match of the season is only in a couple weeks. It’s earlier than ever this year!” Jordan said gobbling down some pork.



“Well, it’s a good thing I’ve kept up with my practice,” Avery replied biting into her roll.



“I just hope it’s good weather this year,” Maria suggested. “Last year’s freezing rain was bloody horrid!”



“I know, remember I almost flew into a pole because my goggles had gotten full of water?” Avery said shivering at the thought. “That was one of the more terrifying moments of my life.”



After dinner, the three caught up to Riley, who had joined his friends at the Ravenclaw table, and they all made their way up to their dormitories.



“I’m going to go unpack, so goodnight,” Maria called from halfway up the stairs.



“Goodnight,” Avery responded.



“Goodnight,” both boys said groggily.



“You two look exhausted, what’s the matter with you?” Avery inquired taking a seat by the fire.



“We had too much dinner, and we feel full,” Jordan announced, rubbing his hand on his stomach to try and soothe the pain.



“Well, why don’t you both just go to bed?” Avery said shaking her head and smiling. “You boys need to learn how to control your appetites.” Jordan nodded in agreement of going to bed, gave a small wave, and headed up the stairs. Riley, on the other hand, took a seat next to Avery on the sofa.



“That fire feels good,” he managed to whisper, wrapping his arm around Avery’s shoulders, and leaning his head back to rest.



“Yeah, it does,” Avery agreed, enjoying the closeness of the moment. She watched the flames dancing in the fireplace and began to miss home. She and her dad had a fireplace built into their living room at home to enjoy on cold winter nights, where she and him had made it a tradition to roast marshmallows and drink hot chocolate. She smiled, enjoying her reverie, when a sudden jerk startled her. Riley had twitched, and she had not noticed until now, that he had fallen asleep with a long streak of drool sliding down his chin. Avery wiped it with her finger, slid out from under him, and grabbed the nearest blanket. She covered him, kissed him goodnight, and headed up to her dormitory.



Avery entered her room to find that none of the girls had fallen asleep. Instead, they were all gathered on one girl’s bed, including Maria, getting caught up on the latest gossip, and mostly about boys and pathetic love-lives. Avery knew she wasn’t in love with Riley, but she would know true love when it came along.



As Avery approached her bed, she noticed a small letter, and a small box attached. She could tell by the writing that it was from her father. She opened the letter first and read:



My dearest Avery,

I just wanted to drop a note in saying that I hope you have a splendid year. I know you’ll kick ass in Quidditch. After all, you are my daughter. I hope that Riley doesn’t give you any trouble, and if he does, you can tell him to report to me. :) I bought you a little something. Not anything special, just a little something for you to have. Every father doesn’t get as lucky as I am to have such an amazing daughter. I love you! Be safe and have fun.

-Dad



Avery laughed lightly to herself and smiled. Her dad really was great. She put the letter aside and opened the little box. Inside, she found a silver necklace with little diamonds in it. A smile crept on her face.



“Thank you, Daddy,” Avery whispered.





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A/N: What did you think? LET ME KNOW!! Even though I\'ve only had one review, from Moony126 (thanks! and yes no slash in future chapters and you\'ll just have to see about her feeling the same way! ) there have been quite a few hits...over 150 so that\'s great :D I hope I get more reviews for this chapter...they keep me motivated to write so PLEASE REVIEW!! even if it\'s just a simple "it was great" I appreciate all comments! \'Till next chapter then...