The Sword of Godric Gryffindor

• Type: Magical Artefact, Horcrux Destroyer
• Owners: Godric Gryffindor, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Griphook, Neville Longbottom
• Maker: Ragnuk the First (King of the Goblins) (Pottermore)

The Sword of Godric Gryffindor is a magnificent, silver sword forged by Goblins. Its hilt is encrusted with large, egg-sized rubies, the signature gemstone of the Gryffindor house. The name Godric Gryffindor is engraved just below the hilt. As a product of master Goblin craftsmanship, it is impervious to rust and dirt, never requiring cleaning and repelling anything that would tarnish it.

The sword possesses several powerful magical properties, making it one of the most significant magical artefacts in the wizarding world.

• Goblin Craftsmanship: Being Goblin-made, the sword is exceptionally strong and virtually indestructible.
• Imbuing Strengths: Its most unique quality is its ability to absorb substances that will enhance its own power. After Harry Potter used it to kill the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, the sword became imbued with Basilisk venom, a substance potent enough to destroy Horcruxes.
• True Gryffindor's Aid: The sword has an enchantment that allows it to present itself to any “true Gryffindor” who is in need of it. It typically appears out of the Sorting Hat, another of Godric Gryffindor's artefacts. This ability is independent of its physical location, as it was able to transport itself from Griphook's possession to Neville Longbottom during the Battle of Hogwarts.
• Horcrux Destruction: Because it was imbued with Basilisk venom, the sword became one of the few known objects capable of destroying Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. Unlike Basilisk fangs, the sword is indestructible, making it a reliable and reusable weapon against them.

The sword was commissioned by Godric Gryffindor from Ragnuk the First, the finest of the Goblin silversmiths and their king. After its completion, the Goblin king coveted the sword so much that he pretended Gryffindor had stolen it from him and sent minions to retrieve it. Gryffindor, however, defended himself with his wand and sent the Goblins back to their king with a threat that if he ever tried to take the sword again, Gryffindor would unsheathe it against all of them. This event became the source of a false but persistent Goblin legend that Gryffindor stole the sword. For centuries, the sword was kept at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, usually housed in a glass case in the Headmaster's office. In 1993, Harry Potter drew the sword from the Sorting Hat to fight the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. This act not only proved his status as a true Gryffindor but also accidentally imbued the sword with Basilisk venom. Years later, Albus Dumbledore used the sword to destroy one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, Marvolo Gaunt's Ring. In his will, Dumbledore bequeathed the sword to Harry, but the Ministry of Magic blocked the inheritance, classifying the sword as a priceless historical artefact belonging to Hogwarts. Unbeknownst to the Ministry, Dumbledore had hidden the real sword and placed a replica in its display case. This replica was later moved by Severus Snape to a vault at Gringotts belonging to Bellatrix Lestrange to bolster Harry's belief that the sword was there. Following Dumbledore's posthumous instructions, Snape delivered the real sword to Harry in the Forest of Dean. Ron Weasley retrieved it from a frozen pond and used it to destroy Salazar Slytherin's Locket. The trio carried the sword with them until their infiltration of Gringotts, where they were forced to surrender it to the Goblin Griphook as payment for his help. During the final moments of the Battle of Hogwarts, the sword reappeared from the Sorting Hat for Neville Longbottom, who used it to kill Nagini, Lord Voldemort's final Horcrux, playing a decisive role in his defeat.

The Sword of Gryffindor is a pivotal object throughout the series, acting as both a powerful weapon and a potent symbol. Initially, it serves as proof of Harry's worthiness and courage. Its primary significance, however, is revealed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, where it becomes the central tool in the trio's quest to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. Its history highlights the deep-seated mistrust between Wizards and Goblins. Ultimately, the sword's appearance for Neville Longbottom symbolizes the passing of the heroic mantle and the idea that courage, not lineage, defines a true Gryffindor.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, it is Harry Potter who brings the sword to the Chamber of Secrets to destroy the Cup of Helga Hufflepuff, whereas in the book, it is Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley who do so using a Basilisk fang. (film)
• The historical dispute over the sword's ownership between Wizards and Goblins reflects different cultural views on ownership. J.K. Rowling explained that, in Goblin culture, payment is for a service (the creation of the object), but the maker is considered the true owner, who only leases it to the purchaser for their lifetime. Wizarding law, however, dictates that an item belongs fully to the purchaser once payment is made. (J.K. Rowling interview)