A Fork in the Road

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Harry Potter. It all belongs to JK Rowling and everyone else. I only own my plot and original characters!



WARNING: This story contains INCEST so if you\'re against it, don\'t read it!



A/N: Read on! ENJOY MY DARLINGS :)





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Chapter Eight: Unwrapping Secrets



Avery awoke to the smell of pancakes, and as she opened her eyes to find herself in a different surrounding than what she was used to, she froze. Only before she realized that she was in her father’s bedroom did she finally relax. After a moment, she recalled the previous night: the window cracking, her coming to her dad’s room, and her sleeping in her father’s arms. Avery smiled to herself, and stretched out her body, feeling an empty bed next to her. She flipped over onto her other side to see that Harry had already gotten out of bed. She was slightly disappointed.



Before rolling out of bed, she fell atop Harry’s pillow, stuffing her face in it, trying to get a whiff of Harry’s scent. As she was thrashing about, she didn’t realize that Harry had been watching.



“Getting a little friendly with my pillow, I see. We’ll I’ll leave you two to get more acquainted,” Harry grinned turning to leave in pure humorous fashion.



“Shut up, dad!” Avery moaned, rolling her eyes. “I was just experiencing a little pre-Christmas excitement. It is Christmas Eve, after all,” Avery tried to say convincingly. After rolling her eyes, Avery noticed that her father was topless and only wearing a tighter pair of black boxers. She stole a quick peak below his abdomen and at his chest before meeting his eyes, hoping that he hadn’t noticed.



“Right,” Harry said casting a glance to the side. “Well, never mind the pillow, I brought you breakfast, doll,” he uttered summoning the tray out from behind him to hover just above Avery’s lap.



“You made me breakfast in bed?” Avery inquired, nearly drooling at the scrumptious-looking meal.



“Yeah, is that alright with you?” Harry asked in playful offense. Avery smiled.



“Of course, thank you!” She grabbed the fork and began to cut her pancakes into little squares, then blanketed them with maple syrup. As she took her first bite, she allowed for the satisfying taste to penetrate her taste buds.



“It’s delicious…why don’t you have some with me?”



“I will…I brought myself a plate, too,” Harry gestured to the plate entering the room, as though by a puppeteer without the strings.



“Oh! So, it wasn’t a special breakfast just for me?” Avery inquired jokingly.



“Yes, it was just for you, but can’t a man be hungry?” Harry’s voice was steady, but Avery could detect every ounce of sarcasm. Her face softened as she reached out and touched his hand slightly.



“I’m only joking.”



She watched Harry smile awkwardly at her before he took a deep breath and dug into his own breakfast.



After finishing up the last few bites of Avery’s pancakes that her stomach couldn’t tolerate, Harry offered to take her plate.



“I don’t know where you learned to cook, dad, but you really are quite the chef!”



“Nah…” Harry sighed trying to sound modest. He took her plate along with his own and stood up to head for the door. “Well, we don’t have a lot of time to sit around, we have to be there at ten,” Harry said approaching the door.



“Be where at ten?” Avery asked, sitting up and running a hand through her hair.



“Don’t you worry about it,” Harry said slickly, giving her a smirk that made her stomach flip. “Just be ready to go in a half hour, ok?”



“Alright.”



As Harry shut the door, Avery grabbed Harry’s pillow and bit the corner of it to keep herself from squealing. She was so overwhelmed with the desire to grab and kiss Harry that she had to somehow restrain herself from not jumping onto him. Although Avery knew that what she was feeling was immoral to most people, she cast her worries aside and decided she would only live for herself and not for what the world expected of her. She was attracted to her father. There was no use lying to herself about it anymore.



--



Harry sat on the couch, waiting for his daughter to come down, enjoying the comfort of the Christmas tree, but as he sat patiently waiting, his mind was ablaze. As Harry read the Prophet and stroked Hedwig’s soft feathers, he couldn’t help but think of his daughter. She had come to his room the night before, alone and afraid, wanting to sleep with him, and he couldn’t get the image out of his head. He could still see her beautiful body, an angelic silhouette, entering his sleeping chamber in the darkness of the night.



“Alright, I’m ready,” she said entering the living room, interrupting his thoughts.



“Great, let’s go then.” Harry said standing up. Hedwig ruffled her feathers slightly, and Harry followed his daughter out of the room, watching as her hair swayed loosely on her back.



They got in the car, and Harry couldn’t help but look down Avery’s shirt. She had a red tank on with a button-up sweater over it. The sweater was open, and the tank had white lace around by her cleavage, which Harry’s eyes were drawn to. He realized he was almost staring, and didn’t want his daughter to notice him checking her out, and so hurriedly ignited the engine and pulled out of the driveway.



While on the road, Avery had closed her eyes to rest since she had not received a full night’s sleep. Harry’s eyes focused on the road, but just enough to where he could peak a few glances at his beautiful angel. He loved watching her chest rise and fall in slow rhythmic breaths; it was beautiful.



--



“We’re here,” she heard Harry’s voice say. The sound was a bit muffled, but by the time she had fully awakened, Avery noticed immediately where they were. Her eyes lit up when she saw the black, gray, and brown mares and stallions in the paddocks.



“Horses! We’re at Riverton Ranch!”



Avery unlocked the door and jumped out, running up to the nearest horse behind the wooden fence and reached out her arm to rub the horse’s nose. The horse nuzzled her hand.



“Hey, you’re here!” Avery heard a familiar manly voice from behind her say. She turned around to see Ron, Hermione, Jordan, and Maria heading her and Harry’s way.



“Hiya Ron,” Harry said shaking his hand and nodding to the rest of the family. “’Mione…Jordan…Maria…nice to see everyone so soon!” Avery patted the horse one last time before running up to the rest of the group.



“Hey everyone!” She piped up.



“Hi Av!” Maria said.



“Long time no see,” came Ron’s voice.



“Well, why don’t we go get our rides paid for, then,” Hermione said in a very motherly fashion, tugging on Ron’s coat. “C’mon Ronald.”



“Yes, dear,” the redhead said smiling and following behind his wife. Harry remained standing with his daughter and her friends before speaking up.



“Well, I better go get our part of the ride covered,” he said, rubbing his hand gently along Avery’s shoulder as he passed. She shivered slightly, and watched him walk away. His arse looked so sexy in those jeans.



“What are you looking at?” Jordan’s voice interrupted her thoughts.



“Hmm? Oh…” she gave a light laugh, “nothing.” Jordan rolled his eyes.



“If you say so…” He began trailing behind Harry, while Avery stayed behind to talk to Maria.



“Maria, I have to talk to you. It’s important.” Avery’s voice became desperate and needed consoling.



“What is it?” Maria was watching Avery curiously.



“I…” Avery took a deep breath. “I think I’m falling for my dad.”



Maria’s eyes became large and bewildered, and then she exhaled, bowing her head and shaking it from side to side.



“What am I supposed to do?” Avery asked as Maria guided her to walk up the hill to where the rest of their families were.



“To be perfectly honest with you, Av…” Maria began, “I’m really not sure.” Avery threw her hands up in disappointment.



“Great…”



“Look, it’s not doing any harm just liking him is it?” Maria inquired sounding like a counselor. Avery took a few seconds before answering just above a whisper.



“No.”



“And there’s no way he likes you back, so…” but Avery stopped dead in her tracks, suddenly furious.



“What do you mean he doesn’t like me back?” Avery’s eyes were narrowed and her heart was racing. “Of course he likes me back! Otherwise, he wouldn’t be acting all weird around me, and that’s what makes this situation horrible…we both like each other!” Avery exclaimed as quietly as she could.



Maria continued walking and Avery followed. They were within twenty feet of their families.



“Look, just don’t do anything you’d regret, Av,” Maria said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I really wouldn’t want to see you get hurt.”



“I’m not going to do anything about it, Maria….I can’t.” Avery’s heart felt as though it had slid down to her stomach, and was being dissolved by all the acids.



“You alright, baby?” Harry asked as the two girls approached.



“Mm hmm, I’m fine,” she lied, forcing a smile.



“Well, I know something that will cheer you right up,” he said grabbing hold of her and spinning her around. Avery’s heart jumped back up into her chest when she saw the two chestnut horses ready to pull the giant sleigh attached to their ropes.



“Holy cricket,” Avery muttered, her cheeks assisting the corners of her mouth to turn upwards. “We’re not really going on a sleigh ride, are we?” She was trying to hold back her excitement.



“Yes, we really are,” Harry, said admiring his daughter’s amusement.



“Maria! Come on! Let’s get in,” Avery said rushing over to the horses that were ready to pull them on a wintry ride. “Hello,” Avery whispered, stroking the mare’s mane. The chestnut horse whinnied and nuzzled Avery’s shoulder.



“He likes you,” Ron said, assisting Hermione into the sleigh. Jordan followed.



“You think so?” Avery asked beaming.



“Who wouldn’t?” Harry said winking at her, allowing for her to get on after Maria. “After you then,” Harry said offering his hand to his daughter. Avery took it willingly and climbed aboard the sleigh. She took a seat at the very end next to Maria, leaving a spot for Harry on the other side of her.



“Well, we’re off, then, I guess,” Ron said as Harry took his seat next to Avery. “The man at the counter said that the horses know where to go.”



“So they just pull themselves without a driver?” Jordan asked.



“I suppose so, because that’s what the ma—“ but before Ron had time to finish, everyone felt a jolt as the sleigh began to move. “Yes,” Ron finished, “they do pull themselves without a driver.”



As the horses began to pick up speed and the blades of the sleigh ran smoothly over the freshly fallen snow, everyone had covered up in blankets and were enjoying the cold. Hermione had summoned up some glasses of tea and hot chocolate.



Avery was holding onto her cup of hot cocoa, when she felt Harry’s arm go around her shoulders.



“You warm enough, darling?” He asked leaning in close to her. Avery felt as though she would drown in his swirling emeralds. She could barely speak, and so just nodded, then quickly took a sip of cocoa, before pretending to be interested in the scenery around them.



As the ride wore on, everyone’s conversations ceased so that they could focus on the beautiful surroundings. It began to snow just a few minutes before the ride was over, and Avery caught a couple of flakes on her tongue. She could feel Harry watching her. She heard Hermione and Maria chatting away as Jordan and Ron were talking of something to do with gifts, when she felt Harry’s hand start running through her black locks.



“This was a really beautiful ride, dad,” Avery managed to say without squeaking. She turned to look at her father, who seemed to have an indecipherable face on. He nodded.



“Everything about it was gorgeous.”



She could see the desire in his eyes as he smiled at her. Her heart was racing like the runners on the sled as she felt his arm pull away. Her shoulders suddenly became cold. She shivered.



“Are you cold?” He asked, picking up her chin with his hand so that she would look at him directly in the face.



“Yeah, your arm was warm around me, and then you took it away.” To her surprise, he took off his coat, and put it on her instead.



“You wear this if you’re cold.”



“But won’t you freeze without a jacket on?” Avery asked sounding like a mother.



“I’ll be fine. I have a few layers on.” He smiled at her.



As they hopped off the sleigh when the ride was over, Ron and Harry charmed some twigs into carrots, and handed them to the girls so that they could feed the horses. The chestnut creatures accepted with gratitude, and as the two families tracked through the snow back to their cars, Avery stole a glimpse at Harry, thinking he wouldn’t be looking at her, and giggled to herself when she noticed that he was looking at her chest.



--



Dammit, I think she saw me looking. Brilliant, Harry. Just brilliant.



Harry looked away as soon as he had seen Avery watching him, and turning away, he felt his face becoming hot.



“Well, we’ll see you at our house then for lunch, then?” Hermione asked, as Jordan and Maria situated themselves in the car.



“Yeah,” Harry said, watching Avery hop into the passenger’s seat of the car and buckle up. “We’ll see you at your house.” Hermione nodded and not until both cars had fired up their ignitions and pulled out of the driveway did Avery finally speak up.



“Well, that was rather enjoyable and exciting going on a sleigh ride, wasn’t it?”



“So, you had a good time, huh?” Harry asked.



“A good time?” Avery repeated, her eyes growing large. “I had a blast! I’ve never done that before and you know how much I adore horses! It was amazing!” She smiled out the window, her face glowing. He really did have the most beautiful daughter in the world.



When he and Avery pulled up at the Weasley’s, they noticed another car in the driveway.



“I wonder whose car that is?” Harry questioned, trying to read the license plate.



“Don’t you remember?” Avery asked, her voice faint. “It’s the Longbottom’s.”



When Harry and Avery entered, Harry’s throat clenched at the sight of Avery’s ex.



“Hi Av!” Riley called, coming to wrap her in a big hug. “Haven’t seen you since school, how are you?”



“I’m fine, Riley…really.” Harry clenched his teeth as she smiled up at him. “Of course you remember my father, Harry,” she said gesturing toward him. Riley stuck out his hand.



“How could I forget? Happy Christmas, Sir,” Riley said shaking Harry’s hand.



“Happy Christmas, Riley,” Harry said making his grin seem as real as possible.



--



Everyone sat down for lunch and ate until they were full. The adults talked about work, while the young ones discussed school life.



“Did you know that Damien got expelled?” Riley was saying to Jordan and Maria. Avery lowered her head. “Tell them about it, Av.”



“Um, Riley? Do you mind if we talk about something else? I don’t feel like getting in to all that on Christmas Eve.” Avery saw Maria smile at her.



“Oh! Sure, that’s fine. I just…thought I’d mention it. He deserved it!” Avery gave a half-hearted smile before glancing down the table at Harry. He had been watching her, but she smiled at him, as she so often did, to keep him from feeling too embarrassed for being caught staring at her.



--



“Well, it was great having everyone!” Ron and Hermione said as each of their guests was getting ready to leave and saying goodbye.



“It was nice seeing you again,” Neville said hugging Hermione and shaking hands with Harry and Ron.



“Great to see you, as well,” Harry said holding Neville’s hand in a firm grip.



“Well, Happy Christmas to you all!” He said as he exited with his wife and son.



“I’ll see you back at school, Av. Happy Christmas,” Riley said before leaving, giving her a quick peck on the hand. She smiled as he walked out, then turned to look at her father, who was staring at Riley a little too red in the face not to be angry.



“Dad,” Avery said trying to get Harry’s attention. “We should probably go.” Harry nodded and said his farewells to the Weasley’s before heading home.



When Avery and Harry got back to the house, she walked into the house to see the perfect Christmas setting: the tree was lit and it smelt of pine. It was lovely.



--



Harry had calmed down once he had come inside the house and smelt the sap of the tree and saw its beautiful branches lined with colored lights and different shaped ornaments.



“There you are!” He heard Avery say from the kitchen as he plopped down on the couch. “You feeling better Gin?” Harry nodded to himself. Gin always got ill for about a week around Christmas time every year, and she went into the doghouse in the basement to lie around and get better. Harry and Avery both knew better than to go down there while Gin was in her “sick state.”



“Dad! Gin’s back just in time for Christmas!” Avery shouted from the kitchen. She walked in with the dog trailing behind her, wagging her tail wildly.



“I think she missed us,” Avery said, scratching Gin behind the ears.



“She missed you,” Harry smiled. Avery just rolled her eyes.



Time flew, and before either Harry or Avery knew it, it was seven o’clock and time for the Potter Christmas Eve to begin. Harry clapped his hands once and all the lights but the ones on the tree turned off, and candles automatically lit themselves while a pot of tea floated in the living room, pouring a cup for the two of them.



“What kind of music would you like tonight?” Avery asked as she took her cup of tea.



“Something soft,” Harry uttered, sipping his hot tea. “You’re going to love all your stuff, I promise,” Harry said beaming.



“Yeah? Well, you’re going to like everything I got you, too,” Avery said, taking a seat next to her father on the couch and thrusting her wand up into the air to start the soft Christmas melodies. Harry watched as Avery took off her sweater.



“Ladies first,” Harry said summoning the first gift to his daughter’s lap. She took the box and shook it.



“Hey! That’s cheating!” Harry protested, breaking into a grin.



“No it’s not,” Avery muttered, tearing off the paper and revealing the bottle of perfume that Harry had bought. She opened the bottle and took a whiff.



“Oo, this smells lovely! Thank you!” She said putting the box aside.



“You’re more than worth it,” Harry said, taking a sip of tea.



“Alright,” she said summoning her father’s first gift, “you’re turn.” Harry unwrapped his first gift and pulled out a pair of new black shoes.



“Hey! These are great! I can definitely use these for work,” Harry beamed. “Thank you.”



They continued unwrapping gifts until each had the final gift to open.



“Ok, now it’s time for your big gift,” Avery said, getting up and grabbing the big box with her hands rather than summoning it. She put it down on the floor in front of Harry.



“Open it.” Harry looked up at her, wondering whether it was a funny gift or something serious. After tearing the paper off and opening the box, he pulled out two tickets.



“What are they?” Harry inquired observing the tickets with curiosity.



“They’re two plane tickets to the United States. I know you said that you and mum were going to go there before the whole thing happened with, well…you know…so I got them for you. You can take Ron or whoever you want. But I just thought that—“ But Harry cut her off.



“They’re brilliant, doll, but…I really would like you to come with me.”



“I would be honored,” Avery said. Harry had tears in his eyes, but he brushed them away with his hands.



“How did you afford these?” Harry asked.



“I have my ways,” Avery smirked.



Harry smiled. “Well, I guess I can’t ask you how much my gift was, because your gift was outrageously expensive,” Harry admitted. Avery gave him a face.



“Why did you spend so much on me?”



“Because you’re my only child…my only daughter, and I love you with all I am,” Harry said. “Now, you’ll have to close your eyes.”



“What? Again?” Avery asked playfully.



“Just please do it,” Harry begged.



“Alright, alright!” Avery pouted. “But hurry! I want to see what you got me! You got me all excited for it!”



Harry grabbed her hand, telling her to make sure her eyes were closed and led her to the back door.



“Is it outside?” Avery asked bewildered, keeping her eyes shut.



“Yes,” Harry muttered, feeling Avery’s hand squeezing his as she squealed quietly in anticipation.



“Brr, it’s cold out here, dad,” Avery whined.



“Alright, baby…open your eyes.”



Avery’s eyes got wider than saucers.



“OH MY GOD!” She squealed aloud. “YOU BOUGHT ME A RED MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE?!” She jumped up and down with enthusiasm before throwing herself at Harry, nearly collapsing him. “Oh! Thank you so much, dad! It’s brilliant! It’s the best present ever!” She yelped with her arms wrapped tightly around Harry’s neck. She ran to the car and hopped in the driver’s seat, as Harry slowly sauntered over to it.



“So, I take it you like it, then?” Harry asked sarcastically. She gave Harry a ‘duh I like it!’ look, and Harry laughed to himself.



“Well, I know you’ll enjoy it, so…Happy Christmas, Avery.” She got out of the car, trying to suppress her thrill, and gave her dad a sincere hug.



“I love it; all of it. Thank you so much!” She gave him a huge kiss on his cheek, and he smiled at the touch of her soft lips.



--



Avery had fallen asleep on the couch watching ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ with her dad, and when she awoke, she found a note sitting on the coffee table next to her.



Avery-



You were sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t want to wake you. Don’t forget to leave out the cookies and milk for Santa. I took a shower and went to bed. Call me if you need anything. I love you! Happy Christmas Eve!



She smiled and then got up to summon the milk and cookies to the table next to the tree. She made sure all the candles had been blown out, then staggered upstairs to take a shower as well.



When she entered the lavatory, she could feel the muggy steam soak into her skin. Dad must have just taken his shower. She wiped the mirror with her hand, and pulled out a brush from inside the vanity drawer. She brushed her black locks, and ran her fingers through it. It was nice and silky. She thought about how Harry had ran his hands through it earlier and couldn’t help but feel a surge of pleasure.



Avery watched herself in the mirror as she took off each article of clothing, slowly, as though she were doing it as a strip tease for her father. She took off her pants and made a face at herself in the mirror. When she took off her shirt, she examined her breasts in her reflection. They weren’t the biggest, but they were full enough for her. She couldn’t help but wonder what Harry would think if he’d ever saw them. Although, catching him staring at her chest today gave her a pretty rough idea of what he really did think.



As she took off her bra and panties, she ran her hands across her body and through her hair, making sensual faces to the mirror. Her skin wasn’t as pale as Harry’s, but she knew she wasn’t dark by any means. When she was finally done admiring herself in the mirror, she stepped into the shower.



Avery let out a piercing shriek when she saw her father standing naked in the shower, soaking wet. She grabbed the shower curtain and covered herself as she shut her eyes tightly. She heard Harry curse under his breath as he fled from the loo, and not until five minutes had passed did she actually take her shower.



Once she had rid her body of all unwanted hairs, had soaped and lathered, and washed her hair, she looked out into the bathroom to make sure Harry hadn’t come back in. As Avery stepped out of the shower, she suddenly suffered a hunger, a hunger that would satisfy her mind as well as her body. She needed to know exactly how her father felt about her, and she was going to find out tonight.



Instead of grabbing the towel to dry herself, she simply seized her towel off the hook and wrapped it around her dripping wet body. She opened the lavatory door and began walking down the corridor to the end where her father’s bedroom lay. As she walked, she could feel herself dripping down her inner thighs, and she knew for a fact that it wasn’t water.



When she reached the closed door, her heart was pounding. She needed to talk to him. Avery took a deep breath and knocked.





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A/N: Soooo? What did everyone think?? I know I\'m going to have a TON of reviews just BEGGING for me to update! I just LOOOOVE keeping you all on the edge of your seats...alright, until chapter nine!