"Need and valor" and the Sword

[leahbrahms]

No: HPFGUIDX 179601

> bboyminn:
>
> You've presented a very tricky question. I never asked myself
> why Harry had to obtain the sword under conditions of 'Need
> and Valor', I just accepted it when it came up in the story.
> Now, after the fact, it doesn't quite make sense.
>
> <snip>

leahbrahms:

I understood that Dumbledore instructed Snape to create a situation
whereby Harry obtained the sword under the conditions of need and
valor because it was under those circumstances that Harry would
understand what to do; those were the circumstances that would make
sense to Harry. He used what he knew of the sword (what DD taught him)
to attack the situation. Also, it proved the identity of the one
obtaining the sword. It reminded me of how Harry obtained the
Philosopher's Stone in the first book: that only a person with certain
qualities would be able to obtain the object, and having those
qualities proved one's worthiness to obtain said object.

leah