[HPforGrownups] Grimmauld inheritance

[Tim Johnson Family]

No: HPFGUIDX 80069

Who will get Grimmauld Place? There's no indication in the book, and there's
no strict rule laid down on inheritance in general. In fact, Sirius getting
the house is the best clue we've got: Sirius inherited the house even though
he had run away from home, been disowned, blasted off the family tree, and
jailed for life for mass murder.
I think that indicates that the house itself might be enchanted to recognize
the true heir, and remain sealed to everyone else. (Dumbledore's office was
sealed to Umbridge.) Otherwise, wouldn't the Malfoys claim it? A prime piece
of London real estate, full of fascinating Dark objects and a replacement
House Elf to boot? Instead, it rots away while Kreacher puts around in it.
Of course, if the house can recognize the true heir, then the question of
who inherits it is easily solved: just get them all to try to get in the
front door.
I think that the original magical contract must have required the name
"Black." As Sirius is the last of the Blacks, who will it go to, then? The
nearest blood relative, or a heir Sirius named?
One key issue is to determine if Sirius had a will, and when he wrote it.
Did he write it before he was sent to Azkaban, or after he escaped?

Short list of possible heirs, arranged more or less from likeliest to the
least likely: The Order of the Phoenix, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter,
Narcissa Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks, Remus Lupin,
Nymphadora Tonks, Draco Malfoy, Kreacher, Lucius Malfoy, some unnamed
relative from Sirius's mother's side of the family, the Weasleys, the
Dursleys (until Harry comes of age), or nobody and the Ministry auctions it
off.

Discussion, people?
--RTJ