Harry Potter Wiki
Harry Potter Wiki
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The sword has a connection with the [[Sorting Hat]], another possession of Gryffindor. It will come to the aid of any [[Gryffindor]] who requested help while having the Sorting Hat with them, regardless of the sword's present location. [[Neville Longbottom]] managed to pull the sword out of the hat in [[1998]] even though it was supposed to be under Griphook's possession at that time. According to [[Albus Dumbledore]], only a true Gryffindor could have pulled the sword out of the hat.
 
The sword has a connection with the [[Sorting Hat]], another possession of Gryffindor. It will come to the aid of any [[Gryffindor]] who requested help while having the Sorting Hat with them, regardless of the sword's present location. [[Neville Longbottom]] managed to pull the sword out of the hat in [[1998]] even though it was supposed to be under Griphook's possession at that time. According to [[Albus Dumbledore]], only a true Gryffindor could have pulled the sword out of the hat.
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==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
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*The Gryffindor sword is featured in the hand of the goblin [[Griphook]] on the front cover of the UK version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''. The sword is also featured on the front cover of the German version of the book.
 
*The Gryffindor sword is featured in the hand of the goblin [[Griphook]] on the front cover of the UK version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''. The sword is also featured on the front cover of the German version of the book.
 
*An illustration of the sword can also be seen being held by Dumbledore before Chapter Eighteen in the American version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''. In this image, the sword has a curved blade, like a scimitar, while in the film it is straight, like a [[Wikipedia:Arming sword|knight's sword]].
 
*An illustration of the sword can also be seen being held by Dumbledore before Chapter Eighteen in the American version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''. In this image, the sword has a curved blade, like a scimitar, while in the film it is straight, like a [[Wikipedia:Arming sword|knight's sword]].
*The sword was used twice in the series (by [[Harry Potter]] and [[Neville Longbottom]] respectively) to kill the [[Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk|Basilisk]] and [[Nagini]], which were both snakes. This may symbolise Godric's hatred towards Slytherin due to having a snake on his crest. This also maybe been an homage to the slaying of Dragons with swords, such as the case of St. George of England.
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*The sword was used twice in the series (by [[Harry Potter]] and [[Neville Longbottom]] respectively) to kill the [[Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk|Basilisk]] and [[Nagini]], which were both snakes. This may symbolise Godric's hatred towards Slytherin due to having a snake on his crest. This also may be have been an homage to the slaying of Dragons with swords, such as the case of St. George of England.
 
*It is unknown how the sword would have been destroyed, had Voldemort turned it into a Horcrux.
 
*It is unknown how the sword would have been destroyed, had Voldemort turned it into a Horcrux.
   

Revision as of 22:06, 22 October 2010

The Sword of Gryffindor was a goblin-made sword that was owned by the famed wizard Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was a masterpiece made by the goblins, with a silver blade and a handle with egg-sized rubies gleaming upon it. The name Godric Gryffindor was engraved just below the hilt.

The Sword and the Sorting Hat (both belonged to Gryffindor) are the only known relics of the four founders of Hogwarts not turned into a Horcrux. It was later used as one of the means to destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes by Harry Potter and his friends.

Forging of the sword

Wallofportraits

Godric Gryffindor with his sword.

According to Griphook, the sword was originally forged by a goblin known as Ragnuk the First. The goblins had claimed that Gryffindor had stolen the sword; this was however false as the sword was made for Gryffindor. Goblins, however, believe that all goblin-made objects belong to the maker and should be returned after the original purchaser died. They therefore consider the sword to have been "stolen."[1]

History

1993

"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat, Harry."
Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter[src]

It is unknown what uses Godric Gryffindor put this sword in during his possession, but the sword was said to appear whenever a true Gryffindor was in need of it. In June of 1993, the sword materialized inside the old school Sorting Hat when Harry was inside the Chamber of Secrets. Harry then used the sword to kill Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk, which was hiding inside the bowels of the Chamber. This caused the sword to be impregnated with basilisk venom (since goblin-made items only imbibe what makes them stronger) and hence gained the ability to destroy Horcruxes. After the events of that year, the sword resided in the Headmaster’s office.

1996

During the summer of 1996, Albus Dumbledore used the sword on the Gaunt family ring, which was one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. The sword cracked the stone in the ring, making it no longer a Horcrux.

Godric

Godric Gryffindor's name on the sword.

1997-1998

Rufus Scrimgeour: "Was it because Dumbledore believed that only the sword of Godric Gryffindor could defeat the Heir of Slytherin? Did he wish to give you that sword, Potter, because he believed, as do many, that you are the one destined to destroy He Who Must Not Be Named?"
Harry Potter: "Interesting theory. Has anyone ever tried sticking a sword in Voldemort?"
— Scrimgeour and the trio discussing the contents of Albus Dumbledore's will[src]

Before he died, Dumbledore entrusted the sword to Harry in his will. However, Rufus Scrimgeour claimed that the sword was not Dumbledore's to give away, and refused to give it to Harry. Dumbledore placed an identical copy of the sword in his office, because he knew that the Ministry of Magic would try to confiscate it, and hid the real sword in a hole in the wall behind his portrait. Sure enough, the sword on display in Dumbledore's office was later taken by Rufus Scrimgeour for examination.

Test of Courage

Harry Potter braves the cold to retrieve the sword.

When the sword was returned to Dumbledore's office, students Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood attempted to steal it for Harry. Following that incident, Severus Snape passed the counterfeit sword to Bellatrix Lestrange, who stored it in her Gringotts vault, thinking it was real. Upon discovering where Harry and his friends were camping out, Dumbledore's portrait instructed Snape to give Harry the real sword without Harry knowing that it was Snape, in case Voldemort found out through Legilimency on Harry. Snape deposited the real sword in a frozen lake in the Forest of Dean and left a Patronus to guide Harry to the sword. When Harry tried to retrieve the sword, Salazar Slytherin's Locket closed around his neck and attempted to strangle him, sensing that its destruction was near. Ron Weasley came to Harry's rescue, retrieved the sword from the lake and used it to stab into the locket, destroying the Horcrux.

Goblin-Griphook, holding the Godric Gryffindor's sword DH

Griphook with the sword

Later, Harry, Ron and Hermione were captured by the Death Eaters and sent to Malfoy Manor. Harry and Ron were imprisoned in the cellar along with Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Mr. Ollivander and the goblin Griphook while Hermione was being tortured and interrogated by Bellatrix Lestrange. Bellatrix demanded to know where the trio came into the possession of the sword, thinking that they had broke into her vault for it. She summoned Griphook to verify the sword, and at Harry's request, Griphook lied and said that it was a fake.

When Harry and the rest were saved by Dobby to Shell Cottage, Harry asked for Griphook's assistance to break into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault at Gringotts, as he suspected another Horcrux was hidden within it. Griphook, impressed by Harry's respectful treatment of the house elf, agreed to help on the grounds that he would be given the real sword as payment. Harry agreed reluctantly. When their break-in was discovered, Griphook seized the real sword and ran with it.

In the Battle of Hogwarts, the sword reappeared in the Sorting Hat for Neville Longbottom and he used it to behead Nagini, Voldemort's snake and his last remaining Horcrux, rendering Voldemort a mortal man once more. The sword was last mentioned lying beside Neville in the Great Hall following the conclusion of the battle.

The sword and the Sorting Hat are the only remaining relics known of the four founders of Hogwarts, as the others were destroyed by 1998, while Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk was destroyed in 1993.

Powers

Being goblin-made, it has qualities found only goblin-made artifacts, such as the power to repel dirt. The blade of the sword also imbibes anything that strengthens it. As Harry used it to slay a basilisk, the sword was impregnated with the Basilisk venom, enabling it to destroy Horcruxes as Basilisk venom is one of the ways to destroy them.

The sword has a connection with the Sorting Hat, another possession of Gryffindor. It will come to the aid of any Gryffindor who requested help while having the Sorting Hat with them, regardless of the sword's present location. Neville Longbottom managed to pull the sword out of the hat in 1998 even though it was supposed to be under Griphook's possession at that time. According to Albus Dumbledore, only a true Gryffindor could have pulled the sword out of the hat.


Behind the scenes

  • The role of the sword in the Chamber of Secrets film is much the same as in the book; however in the PC and PS2 versions of the video game based on the movie, the sword has a long range attack; a ball of light (PC) or a lightning (PS2) which can be launched from the sword.
  • The Gryffindor sword is featured in the hand of the goblin Griphook on the front cover of the UK version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The sword is also featured on the front cover of the German version of the book.
  • An illustration of the sword can also be seen being held by Dumbledore before Chapter Eighteen in the American version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In this image, the sword has a curved blade, like a scimitar, while in the film it is straight, like a knight's sword.
  • The sword was used twice in the series (by Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom respectively) to kill the Basilisk and Nagini, which were both snakes. This may symbolise Godric's hatred towards Slytherin due to having a snake on his crest. This also may be have been an homage to the slaying of Dragons with swords, such as the case of St. George of England.
  • It is unknown how the sword would have been destroyed, had Voldemort turned it into a Horcrux.

Appearances

See also

Notes and references

  1. "A transcript of a web chat with J.K. Rowling" from The Leaky Cauldron
  2. It is partially seen in glass case to the left of Dumbledore's portrait

External Links