Which is what I suggested in post #6.
ecaits, please tell us what value you are writing to the ADCON1 register.
Explanation: the RA0 pin can work in three modes, a digital input, a digital output or an analog input. Obviously, to measure an analog voltage you want it to be in analog input mode. If it is set to digital input you would read back '0' from the pin until the pot was about half way around then it would suddenly change to '1'. In digital output mode it will try to drive the pin high or low from inside the PIC. From your description, you have it in digital output mode and are driving the pin to 4.73V from inside the PIC itself.
Brian.