A Fork in the Road

Disclaimer: I don\'t own anything HP and don\'t make money off this.



WARNING: This story contains INCEST but if you\'ve read this far in the story, you already know that...



A/N: ENJOY because this is sadly pretty much the final chappie and the next chapter is the epilogue. Tell me what you think!!



Chapter 27: A Fork in the Road



“A boy…” Harry whispered, looking at the little bundle of blue that the doctor was holding.



“Do you want to hold your son Ms. Potter?” Dr. Fletingdale asked. Avery nodded, smiling but still a little weary from the birthing. The doctor handed the baby to her gently and she cradled it in her arms. Harry had not remembered the last time he had felt so happy.



“Could I have a moment alone with my daughter?”



“Sure,” Fletingdale smiled and left the room with Nurse Banks. Once the door was shut, Harry looked at his beautiful daughter and his son.



“God, he’s gorgeous, dad…” Avery said softly, looking down into the face of her newborn. She looked up at Harry. “He looks just like you. Are you…dad, are you crying?”



Harry had not desired to wipe away his tears for he knew more would come.



“I’m just so happy, Avery. I mean, this is just…it’s the happiest day of my life.” More tears spilled out of his eyes, unwillingly, but yet, he let them fall, unashamed.



“Oh, daddy…it is the greatest day. Do you want to hold him?” Harry nodded and wiped his face a little. She handed him the little bundle and smiled when he took his son up in his sturdy arms, rocking back and forth.



“Hey there, little guy,” Harry’s voice was extremely soft. “I’m your daddy, Harry…welcome into the world. You’re very beautiful, just like your mother.” His eyes met Avery’s. Her eyes were now full of tears, ready to slide down her cheeks. “I love you,” Harry whispered to his son. “I always will.” He kissed the baby’s forehead and handed him back to his girl.



“He’s so cute,” Harry said, watching how perfect the baby fit into her arms.



“Dad, I’m so glad you were here. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be anyone else holding my hand,” Avery smiled.



“Me either, baby…me either. So, what are we going to name him?”



“I want you to decide.”



“Me?” Harry asked. “No, I want you to, Av…he’s yours.”



“He’s ours, dad,” Avery smiled, the baby now sleeping peacefully in her arms.



“Well…how about you pick one and I’ll let you know if I think it’s suitable?”



“Fair enough…I think I want his name to be Godric James.”



“As in Godric Gryffindor?” Harry asked, slightly puzzled.



“Yes, because I want him to be proud to be the descendant of a powerful Gryffindor and I want him to have part of your name as his. Dad, you are such a wonderful and amazing father, and I want our son to know the same.”



“Alright then, beautiful…Godric James Potter it is.”



--



After a few days, Avery and the baby were sent home, healthy. Harry had created a bedroom out of Avery’s old bedroom, and once the baby would be a few months older, they would move him into it. But for now, Godric slept in a bassinet in Harry and Avery’s bedroom.



Avery returned to school after four months. She had gotten Harry’s approval, as minister, to stay home until the baby could do alright without her. She had Maria send her homework to her via owl and did her homework from home. Some weekends, she went to school for tests or other important things for her exams, but other than that, she was mostly home with Godric.



After Christmas break, Avery returned to school full-time. People asked many questions about the baby, which pleased her. But one person was very upset and confused.



“So,” Riley said casually sitting across from Avery at dinner one night. “Who’s the father?”



Avery felt herself getting hot, but she kept her cool. She was a bit angered by the forwardness of his inquiry.



“It’s not anybody’s business but mine,” she replied, taking a bite of some chicken.



“Look, Av…I’m glad that you think this only affects you, but you broke up with me, remember? I think I have a right to know who it was that has taken my place…”



“Stop being such an arse,” Maria cut in. “She doesn’t want to be bothered about it, so leave it alone.”



“No one asked you to get involved,” Riley snapped. Maria looked very offended but didn’t remark.



“Stop it, both of you. Look, Riley, I’m not going to fight about this with you. When I feel ready, I’ll tell you.”



“Yeah, whatever…” He stood up, angrily, and strode out of the Great Hall.



“Ponce…” Avery muttered, taking a sip of juice.



--



The year flew by and Godric had turned 8 months. Avery had passed all of her exams and was now sitting with the rest of her seventh-year classmates under the sun of a perfect mid-June sky. Harry would speak, as Minister, to the graduates about their futures to commence the ceremony. He stood tall at the front of the crowd, with Ministry members sitting behind him in a perfect row of chairs.



“Good day to you all,” his echo rippled over the group of witches and wizards gathered. “On behalf of the Ministry, I would like to extend our congratulations for the numerous and wonderful accomplishments of this batch of seventh years sitting before us today.” He began to clap, followed by the other Ministry officials, and finally, the rest of the group. He picked his head up high and heaved a sigh before beginning again.



“Today…we gather not only to celebrate the completion of our young children’s seven years of education, but also to commemorate the unique individuals that are a part of such a significant group.” Harry looked down briefly at his daughter in her mahogany and gold robes and winked. “Each witch and wizard here today shares some unique facet and contributes that to the wizarding community in his or her own unique way. All these young witches and wizards are prepared and now ready to make their final steps to becoming the witches and wizards they will be the rest of their lives. Through these seven years at Hogwarts, these individuals have made mistakes, grown from those mistakes, and have become stronger. And not even the students, but some Ministry members and professors as well. I, the Minister for Magic have done quite the same.” Harry looked down at his daughter and saw the sudden confusion on her face. He took a deep breath.



“I have a confession to make.” Harry looked down at Avery’s pale face and knew she understood what was about to happen. “Just about a year and a half ago, I did something I could never take back. My course of action led to other things and now there is something that will always be there, reminding me of my actions. Granted, I do not regret what I have done to say the least. I am actually proud of what I thought was once a mistake because it has changed me as a person and has reshaped my life to make it better. And I do realize I could be sent to Azkaban for this, but I need to come clean with everyone.”



The entire crowd was watching him like a hawk, including his nerve-wrecked daughter.



“I am the father of my daughter’s baby.” The gasp that went around the entire crowd was like a rush of light wind and the muttering that followed was like a muffled engine starting. There were outbursts as well from certain parents and some Ministry members stood, ready to disarm him.



“You’re SICK!”



“THAT’S WRONG!”



“SEND HIM TO AZKABAN!”



Harry looked down at Avery, who had tears in her eyes. But then saw an even worse thing. Riley was making his way over to Avery with his wand pointed out. Harry had only a moment to grab his wand and disarm the boy, but he succeeded.



“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL?!” Riley screeched. “YOU’RE FUCKING TWISTED POTTER!”



Harry kept his wand pointed towards the boy, but his little Avery was on her feet with her wand out before anyone one could say anything.



“DON’T YOU DARE TALK TO MY FATHER THAT WAY, YOU TWIT!” Avery screamed. Riley grabbed up his wand and walked away, ignoring her, but turned back to scream out.



“YOU’RE ALL SICK! FUCKING TWISTED AND SICK!” He bellowed. Harry ignored him and let him keep walking on. He saw Neville stand in a middle row, red-faced and noticeably upset, and walk after his son. Harry brushed this aside as well.



“Look! Before anyone says anything, please hear me out…” but a high-pitched voice interrupted him and he looked down to see Avery walking up to the front of the crowd.



“Please, dad…let me handle this one. It’s my turn to be brave.” She touched his cheek, lovingly, and stepped up to the podium. Harry pointed his wand at her so that her voice would boom over the crowd as well.



“Before anyone starts throwing things at me, please hear my side of this seemingly wrong story. No one knows what it’s like to grow up without a mother and be raised by a single father. It wasn’t easy…for me or for Harry. I never knew what a mother’s love felt like, so a lot of you are really lucky. I never knew my mum, and because I didn’t have a mother, my dad and I became best friends. I knew a few years ago that I was attracted to my dad. You can’t help these things, and surely I didn’t expect anything to come of these feelings…but life never prepared me for the unexpected. A year ago this past Christmas, I came onto my father. I was the one who initiated it all. It was me. So, I’m begging everyone…please don’t send him to Azkaban. I love this man more than anything, and no one or nothing in the world could ever change that. And yes, he did get me pregnant, but I am happy with the way things are. It’s MY life…it’s OUR life…” Avery looked over the crowd to see a few people nodding.



“There is nothing more special than love,” Harry interjected, smiling, and coming up on his daughter by grabbing her waist. “I love my daughter and I will do anything in my power to protect her. I propose a change in the law forbidding incest. Who’s with me?”



Harry observed the crowd of empty hands until he saw two hands slowly rise into the air. It was Ron and Hermione, his two best pals till the end. A few more hands shot up and then Harry turned behind him to look at the Ministry members. Only a few were raising their hands.



“Well, if the motion cannot be passed, then I am resigning as Minister.” The crowd sat motionless. Everyone knew that Harry was the best Minister, but too many were now judgmental. “That’s my final decision, then…I’m stepping down. Congratulations seventh years. May your futures be bright,” Harry said and started walking down. As he walked, out of the corner of his eye he saw more hands rising into the air. He stopped and the hands kept rising.



Avery looked around as well, and all the Ministry members’ hands were now raised and soon the entire crowd was practically raising their hands. Avery had tears in her eyes now and started clapping. Soon more clapping was heard and before Harry was back up on the platform, the entire crowd was clapping in conjunction with one another. Harry smiled as he came back up and kissed his daughter right then and there. He could hear cheers all around him, and as weird as it was, he felt more normal than he had in years.





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A/N: Well? Did you enjoy?? Hope so!! PLEASE REVIEW!!