The Sword of Gryffindor is a magnificent, silver sword crafted by goblins. The blade is brilliantly shining, and engraved just below the hilt is the full name of its original owner: Godric Gryffindor. The hilt itself is set with large, egg-sized rubies, the gemstone associated with the Gryffindor house. As a product of goblin smithing, the sword is enchanted. It is impervious to dirt and rust, never requiring cleaning, and it repels anything that would tarnish it.
The Sword of Gryffindor possesses several unique and powerful magical properties:
The sword was commissioned by Godric Gryffindor from Ragnuk the First, the king of the goblins and their most skilled silversmith. After completing the sword, Ragnuk grew to covet it and, after it was delivered and paid for, falsely claimed Gryffindor had stolen it. He sent his minions to retrieve it, but Gryffindor defended himself with his wand and sent the goblins back with a threat: if Ragnuk ever tried to take the sword again, Gryffindor would use it against all goblins. Ragnuk took the threat seriously, and the sword remained in Gryffindor's possession. (Pottermore) For centuries, the sword was kept in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts, protected within a glass case. In 1993, Harry Potter pulled the sword from the Sorting Hat during his confrontation with Tom Riddle's memory and the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. He used it to slay the serpent, at which point the sword became imbued with Basilisk venom. Albus Dumbledore later used the venom-infused sword to destroy a Horcrux, Marvolo Gaunt's Ring. Recognizing its immense importance, Dumbledore bequeathed the sword to Harry in his will. However, the Ministry of Magic, led by Rufus Scrimgeour, blocked the inheritance, arguing the sword was a priceless historical artifact belonging to Hogwarts, not Dumbledore. Anticipating this, Dumbledore had already replaced the sword in the Headmaster's office with a copy. He entrusted the real sword to Severus Snape, who, following instructions from Dumbledore's portrait, hid it in a frozen pond in the Forest of Dean. Snape then used his Patronus to lead Harry to its location. Ron Weasley retrieved the sword from the pond and used it to destroy Salazar Slytherin's Locket. The trio later sought help from the goblin Griphook to break into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault at Gringotts, believing the sword to be there (unaware it was a copy). Griphook agreed to help in exchange for the real sword. During their escape from the bank, Griphook seized the sword and fled. The sword's final appearance was during the Battle of Hogwarts. As Voldemort set the Sorting Hat upon Neville Longbottom's head, Neville defied the Dark Lord. In this moment of supreme courage, Neville was able to pull the Sword of Gryffindor from the burning hat and used it to decapitate Nagini, destroying the final Horcrux.
The Sword of Gryffindor is a pivotal object in the series, functioning as both a symbol and a crucial tool. It represents the ultimate embodiment of Gryffindor courage and chivalry. Its ability to appear to a worthy Gryffindor in a time of need serves as a powerful deus ex machina, saving the heroes at critical moments. More importantly, after being imbued with Basilisk venom, it becomes one of the central weapons in the war against Voldemort, as one of the very few instruments capable of destroying his Horcruxes. The sword's history also illuminates the deep-seated cultural conflict between wizards and goblins regarding the concepts of payment and ownership.