Why is Draco an only child?

[Grey Wolf]

No: HPFGUIDX 127087


> Sherrie here:
> 
> Unless, of course, the WW practices primogeniture, in which the eldest son 
> gets everything, and the younger children get zippo.  (Think of "Sense & 
> Sensibility", e.g.)  We don't really know what inheritance laws/patterns obtain in 
> the WW - we've really never seen anyone inherit.
> 
> Sherrie
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Actually, those rules were almost always in place - the parents indeed could 
simply give all the lands and fortune to the eldest, and legally the rest of the 
children wouldn't be able to do a thing. However, Most noble families depend 
more heavily on honour and respect, even the malfoys, after a fashion. It 
would simply not look well to not arrange things for all the children - most 
would be married off, of course, but even those would get dowries, and the 
rest would be provided for. Or else the other families would mutter - and 
muttering is the one thing one family such as the Malfoys try to avoid, since 
it can eventually hurt them a lot. A usual motto in many proud lineages - 
even some of the most corrupt in our history, like the Borgia - is that, no 
matter what, you look after your own.

So while legally they could have more children and not divide the family wealth, 
I rather doubt they would do it. It would only lead to a loss pf position for the 
family anyway.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf