Shattered Souls • Hedric

Chapter Twenty

Severus, Bill, Carlisle, Edward and Leora accompanied Harry to Gringotts in Seattle Washington. They were hoping to get the matter of Harry's guardianship settled before he was forced to return to Hogwarts. Harry hadn't been able to sleep the night before, he was terrified of getting drug back to the people that betrayed him.

"Relax love, everything will be ok." whispered Edward. Edward was carrying his daughter who was wrapped up in a pale purple blanket.

"Nothing has ever been OK for me." sighed Harry. "Forgive me if I don't have much faith in the system, it has never worked for me before."

The group followed a gnarly, slumped over goblin to a back room. They waited patiently while he walked around his large desk and took a seat. "I am Blackroot, and you are Harry Potter, Severus Snape and William Weasley. No farther introductions are needed, but I would like to know who the vampires are." The goblin looked curiously at Carlisle and Edward.

"I am Carlisle Cullen and this is my son Edward Cullen. It's a pleasure to meet you." answered Carlisle.

Blackroot gave Carlisle a strange look. He had never met one of his kind that treated them with respect. Vampires normally looked down on all species. "What can I help you with today?" Blackroot knew all about Harry Potter and everything he had been through.

"We have come today because my guardianship of Harry has supposedly been revoked. I would also like to enquire about officially adopting Harry." said Severus, in a silky smooth voice. Severus looked to Harry who was nervously fiddling with the edge of Leora's blanket.

"Yes, well as soon as Arthur Weasley signs the adoption forms, they will be Potter's official adoptive parents." Blackroot folded his hands together and looked at the wizards and vampires.

"Not only am I Edward Cullen, but I am also Cedric Diggory. I legally married Harry when he was fourteen and I was seventeen, does that not make me Harry's legal guardian?" asked Edward.

Blackroot stared at the vampire proclaiming to be the deceased Diggory heir. "Since I can't use your blood to test your claim, I will need a sample of your hair." Blackroot picked up a bowl and handed it to the vampire. "Pluck out a few strands and place them in the bowl."

Edward nodded and did as told. Patiently he waited while Blackroot poured a black potion in the bowl, swirled it around, then dumped it onto a blank piece of parchment. Everyone leaned forward as names started sketching themselves on the piece of parchment.

Blackroot chuckled at them and snatched the paper from their view. "According to this, you are indeed Cedric Diggory, your husband is Harry James Potter and you have one daughter, Leora Kalila Potter. It also says that you died on June 24th of last year competing in the TriWizard tournament. All information we have on the Diggory family, that automatically updates itself, lists you as deceased. The Diggory family tapestry also lists you as deceased. In other words, Cedric Diggory, husband to Harry Potter, father to Leora Potter, is dead."

Harry choked back a sob that was trying to escape. "What does that mean?" He asked in a trembling voice. He hated hearing that his husband was dead, if felt like ice water running through his veins.

"It means, Mr Potter, that a dead man cannot be your guardian, or husband." Blackroot said flatly.

Harry turned his head into Edwards shoulder to hide his tears. He just knew that this wasn't going to work out for him. He was going to be forced to return to Hogwarts and be ripped from his daughter until he turned seventeen.

Edward passed Leora to Bill and scooped up Harry and placed him in his lap, holding him tight. "So, I am not married to Harry? Edward asked with dread.