Sword of Godric Gryffindor

• Type: Magical Weapon, Horcrux Destroyer
• Owners: Godric Gryffindor, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Griphook (briefly)
• Maker: Ragnuk the First, King of the Goblins

The Sword of Godric Gryffindor is an ancient, magnificent sword forged by Goblins. It is made of pure, gleaming silver and is described as being goblin-wrought. The hilt is intricately worked and set with large, egg-sized rubies, the signature gemstone of Gryffindor house. Engraved just below the hilt is the full name of its original owner, Godric Gryffindor. As a product of master Goblin craftsmanship, the sword is indestructible. It is also enchanted to repel dirt and grime, requiring no cleaning.

The sword possesses several profound magical properties that make it one of the most significant magical artifacts in the wizarding world.

• Imbibing Strength: A key characteristic of Goblin-made silver is its ability to imbibe any substance that will make it stronger. The sword absorbed the potent venom of the Basilisk after Harry Potter used it to slay the creature. This property is what transformed it into a tool capable of destroying Horcruxes.
• Horcrux Destruction: Imbued with Basilisk venom, the sword became one of the few known substances powerful enough to destroy a Horcrux. It was used to destroy three of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes:
  • Albus Dumbledore used it to destroy Marvolo Gaunt's Ring.
  • Ron Weasley used it to destroy Salazar Slytherin's Locket.
  • Neville Longbottom used it to destroy Nagini.
• Appearing to Worthy Gryffindors: The sword has a unique connection to the Sorting Hat, another artifact owned by Godric Gryffindor. It can be pulled from the Hat by any true and worthy member of Gryffindor house who is in great need. Harry Potter pulled it from the Hat in the Chamber of Secrets, and Neville Longbottom did the same during the Battle of Hogwarts.

The sword was forged over a millennium ago by the renowned Goblin king, Ragnuk the First, for Godric Gryffindor. A deep and bitter controversy surrounds its ownership. Goblins, including the banker Griphook, maintain that Gryffindor stole the sword from its creator. The wizarding account, as told by Bill Weasley and Professor Flitwick, is that Gryffindor commissioned and paid for the sword fairly, but Ragnuk became so fond of his creation that he pretended it was stolen and sent minions to retrieve it. Gryffindor is said to have defeated them with his wand and sent them back with a threat, securing the sword's place in wizarding history. For centuries, the sword was kept safely at Hogwarts, displayed in a glass case in the Headmaster's office. Albus Dumbledore retrieved it to destroy Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, a Horcrux, after his hand was cursed by it. In his will, Dumbledore bequeathed the sword to Harry Potter, but the Ministry of Magic, led by Rufus Scrimgeour, refused to honour the request, classifying the sword as a priceless historical artifact that did not belong to Dumbledore. Unknown to the Ministry, this was a fake. The real sword was hidden by Dumbledore and later handled by Severus Snape. Acting on instructions from Dumbledore's portrait, Snape placed a replica in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault at Gringotts while delivering the true sword to Harry Potter. Snape's Patronus, a silver doe, led Harry to the real sword at the bottom of a frozen pond in the Forest of Dean. After Harry was nearly strangled by Salazar Slytherin's Locket while trying to retrieve it, Ron Weasley rescued him and used the sword to destroy the Horcrux. The sword was later given to Griphook as payment for helping the trio break into Gringotts. The Goblin absconded with it during the chaotic escape. The sword's final appearance in the series was during the climax of the Battle of Hogwarts, when it materialized from the Sorting Hat for Neville Longbottom, who used it to decapitate Nagini, the final Horcrux.

The Sword of Godric Gryffindor is a pivotal object in the saga. It first appears as a deus ex machina, enabling Harry to defeat the Basilisk. Its true significance is revealed later when Dumbledore identifies it as a weapon against Voldemort's Horcruxes. It functions as a symbol of true bravery and the legacy of Gryffindor house, presenting itself only to those who demonstrate courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Furthermore, the conflict over its ownership serves as a powerful symbol of the deep-seated prejudice and mistrust between wizards and Goblins.

• According to Pottermore, the sword's ability to present itself to worthy Gryffindors is not a property endowed by Gryffindor himself, but a result of its unique connection to the Sorting Hat. The two artifacts were imbued with a shared magic to be summoned for a true Gryffindor. (Pottermore)
• The Pottermore website also confirms the wizarding version of the ownership dispute, stating that Gryffindor did not steal the sword and that the Goblin belief is based on misinformation spread by Ragnuk the First. (Pottermore)
• In the film adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2*, after Griphook seizes the sword at Gringotts, he is killed by Lord Voldemort moments later, and the sword dissolves from his hands, presumably returning to the Sorting Hat's care. In the novel, Griphook's fate is less clear, but he is killed during the mayhem and does not encounter Voldemort directly at that time. (film)