Previous Grimauld Place & Inheritance Discussion

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 87896

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "khatimhamidon" <arrafah at h...>
wrote:
> > > Kitten concludeds:
> > >
> > > Kitten, who would preferably have Draco have the house then 
> > >Harry, 
.
> > 
> > bboy_mn:
> > 
> > I agree that house at Grimauld Place is much more suited to 
> > Draco's personality, but if Draco gets the house, then the Order
> > loses a headquarters.

> 
> now me, singapotter.
> 
> i was wondering why would DRACO inherit the house, instead of his 
> father, LUCIUS? Lucius is a nearer heir to the Blacks rather than 
> DRACO, who's already one generation away, don't you think?
> 
> Is there something in the canon which says the Malfoys may have a 
> share in the inheritance? I must have missed it. 
> 
> Thanks.


bboy_mn:

The Black Estate can't go to Lucius because Lucius doesn't have any of
the Black Family blood line in him. Draco on the other hand is a
combination of a Black and a Malfoy, and of all the people who are
spoken of on the Black Family Tapestry, he is the only living male.
(or at least the only one that I can remember)

That makes Draco the oldest living male with Black blood in him. In
Europe, it is very common for the entire estate to go to the oldest
living 'blood' male, that prevents the family fortune from being
diluted with each successive death and inheritance. 

If I remember correctly, there are three living female first cousins
who shared the Black blood line and family name (prior to their
marriages). Under normal inheritance laws, they could have some claim
to the estate since they are close blood relatives. Under those same
laws, a legal Will could override blood relationship. This is more
like the laws in the USA, but I'm under the impression that the 'Male
Heir' system is historically more common in Britian.

As to the wizard world, we don't know exactly how it typically works,
so the best we can do is draw models for likely muggle systems of
inheritance. 

My suggestion of Harry and Draco sharing the inheritance was just
speculation on a possible outcome. That would actually be a very
unusual and uncommon end result. 

If you read some of the older threads I suggested, you will find
comments from people who are far more familiar with British and
European inheritance traditions and customs than I am. In fact, it was
one of their comments that made me aware that Draco was indeed the
most likely heir to the Black estate.

Just a few thoughts.

bboy_mn