[HPforGrownups] Re: Previous Grimauld Place & Inheritance Discussion

[Thren]

No: HPFGUIDX 88574

rredordead at aol.com said:

>>Which got me wondering just who is Harry's current legal guardian?
>>The Dursley's right?  Sirius was named his Godfather, and the role of
>>Godfather is to assume the role of parent if the parents die, but
>>doesn't a God parent have to legally adopt the child to assume that
>>role?  We know Sirius didn't have the time to adopt Harry as he was
>>in prison, a fact that would disqualify him form adopting a child
>>anyway.  So I assume the Dursleys have legal control over Harry until
>>he is 18.
>>    
>>

And then Janet said:

>I think a godfather must have legal standing in the wizarding world, because 
>Sirius, even on the run from the law, was able to sign a permission form for 
>Harry to visit Hogsmeade *and have it accepted* by both Dumbledore and 
>MacGonigall.  
>
And now Thren says:

Sirius was his godfather, which was played up many times much to my 
annoyance (godparents, as I understand it, are meant to ensure that the 
child is raised knowing/according to their particular religion- that's 
how it was explained to me, anyhow). But he was also Harry's legal 
guardian, which you will see if you check the end of POA when they're in 
the tunnel between the Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow (I don't 
have my books with me, so no quote, sorry). Sirius says he was *also* 
made Harry's guardian in case anything happened.

It makes the mind boggle, really. If Harry hadn't gone to the Dursleys, 
he would have been Sirius' to raise. O.O I can well imagine a child 
raised by Sirius (a 22ish, pre-Azkaban, motorcycle-riding Sirius, no 
less), and it's not a pretty picture. :P