Wizard Death / Settlement of Estate etc.

[mhbobbin]

No: HPFGUIDX 111544

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kempermentor" 
<kempermentor at y...> wrote:
>  
> mhbobbin <snip>:
> 
> We don't know what is normal for the Veil. Certainly Sirius's 
> missing body lends uncertainty to his peculiar death, and is fuel 
to 
> those of us who theorize that JKR has more plans for him.
> 
> 
> Kemper now:
> 
> Regarding Sirius' death... will there at least be a private wake 
or 
> something similar for Harry's grief?  Or does the WW not have 
death 
> ceremonies because they're so enlightened?

mhbobbin:
Further to that--how does one verify the death so that there would 
be a settlement of his estate, funeral etc.  Witnesses to Sirius 
falling through the Veil are either DEs in prison, Bellatrix on the 
run, members of the OotP who may have an interest in concealment of 
Sirius' death or the kids--only Harry and Neville are still around 
to witness the Sirius / Veil event. There's no benefit, that I can 
see, for Phoenix members revealing that they saw their ally Sirius 
die. After all, the Phoenix is a secret society and no member would 
want to be publicly linked with a criminal until such time they 
could prove his innocence.

Unless the Veil spits out some sort of receipt, how would the WW 
know of Sirius' death? As far as the WW is concerned, Sirius would 
still be missing and on the lam. Death Eaters would know but right 
now they might have a credibility problem and have other problems 
like whether they'll break out of Azkaban in Chapter 1 or Chapter 2 
of Book Six.

Seems to me that for the time being, DD can hold back the info about 
Sirius' presumed death from the Ministry etc. so that the estate 
continues to be the headquarters for the Phoenix. Even if Grimauld 
Place passes to Narcissa Black Malfoy, how is she going to make a 
claim if she can't prove Sirius' death. I am assuming there's a 
legal process which may be a poor assumption.  

Secrecy about the death of Sirius would also depend on how the 
Secret Keeper charm works--whether suddenly people who used to know 
where Grimauld Place, can now find it. Or if Kreacher can now reveal 
previously forbidden information about the Order to Narcissa Malfoy.

mhbobbin