The Sword of Gryffindor

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 182560

---  "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:

bboyminn:

As usual, I'm off on some minor tangents, and while I'm not
disputing Carol, I'm am questioning the exactness of her
interpretation.

> >
> Carol responds:
> 
> And yet Fawkes brought Harry the Sorting Hat. Wouldn't he 
> have done so on Dumbledore's orders rather than on his own 
> initiative?... but Harry needed the hat with the sword 
> magically concealed inside ...
> 


bboyminn:

Well, here is my first question, IS the Sword really IN the
Hat? Or, is the Hat merely a transfer medium by which the
Sword is drawn from it's current location to the person in
need? 

I'm under the impression that the Sword of Gryffindor was,
in a sense, lost. Not that it had been left in some unknown
random location virtually anywhere in the wizard world. No, it
may very well have been at Hogwarts, but that it had been 
stored away for so many centuries that its exact location was
unknown. 

Keep in mind that the first we hear of the Sword is when it
comes to Harry. No mention of a magnificent Sword on the wall
in Dumbledore's office nor anywhere else in Hogwarts. It would
have seemed, if it was in Dumbledore's office, noticing it 
would have been nice foreshadowing.

So, I say...lost. 

> Carol continues:
>
> "This is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A songbird and 
> an old hat?" (SS Am. ed. 316). Unless Diary!Tom is mistaken,
> and JKR provides no alternative explanation, Dumbledore 
> arranged these protections.
> 

bboyminn:

This is the next question, exactly how elaborate were 
Dumbledore's arrangements. Did he specifically plot and plan 
every aspect of the rescue by Fawkes, or did he just generally
tell Fawkes to look after Harry? 

It seems extremely difficult for Dumbledore to have known
Harry would need a sword. I'm more inclined to think that
Dumbledore did NOT make any specific plans, but relied on
Fawkes instinct to know in-the-moment what would benefit 
Harry. 

Fawkes of his own volition, brought the Sorting Hat to Harry
because it was the only device that Fawkes knew of and had
access to that might be able to draw some hope and assistance 
to Harry. 

The nature of the Sorting Hat, as I have describe it, seems
more consistent with the overall story. Because the Hat and
the Sword were Gryffindor's, they have an affinity that allows
the Hat to bring the Sword regardless of where the Sword is
or what restraining enchantments it might be under. 

Likely the Goblins would have made some effort to prevent the
Sword from being Summoned or taken by similar magical 
methods. But those methods of protection would not have 
mattered to the Hat. The Hat and the Sword are connected by
history and magic, and that overrides any restraining 
protection. It's sort of like a backdoor or an underground
path between them, that allowed the Hat to draw the Sword to
Neville even though the Sword was under Goblin protections. 

Now, this bring up the final question, can the Hat summon
any device that it feels will be useful, or is it limited
to summoning (or transferring) only the Sword to which it
has a historical and magical connection? Personally, I say
the Hat can only draw the Sword to it, but of course I'm
speculating, but then isn't that what I'm always doing? 

One last comment, touching on some things Carol said that
I have 'snipped'. Is the Sword sufficiently magical to have
a degree of sentience or self-awareness similar to a Wand? 

Notice that the Sword is only drawn to Gryffindors who 
strongly display Gryffindor traits. Also notice that 
Dumbledore instructs Snape that Harry must obtain the Sword 
under conditions of 'need and valor'. That sound suspiciously
like how a wand must be taken in order for it to switch its
allegiance. 

To be the true 'master' of the Sword, you must obtain it in
a way that is consistent with Gryffindor ideals. Only then
will the Sword display its true magical abilities.

What magical abilities you might ask? Well I speculate that
under the right circumstance, the /magical/ Sword might have
been able to be used as a wand to cast and focus spells if 
it what the fair Gryffindor needed at the time. Further, it
may have been able to act as a shield against unfriendly 
spells. Of course, circumstances never present themselves in
a way that allows us to see the full magical power of the
Sword. But, whether I've seen it or not, I believe that it
is there. 

Any thoughts on this???

Just rambling along.

Steve/bboyminn