The Sword of Gryffindor

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 182601

Jack-A-Roe wrote:
> <snip>
> 
> I thought the Sword only got covered in Basilisk blood. When did it 
> get the venom on it?

Carol responds:

Harry stabbed the Basilisk through the mouth. Hermione says in DH that
merely "ripping, smashing, or crushing" a Horcrux won't destroy it. It
has to be destroyed "beyond magical repair" by Basilisk venom or a
similarly destructive substance (DH Am. ed.104). She also says that if
she ran Ron through with a sword, she wouldn't damage his soul at all.
We can deduce from a combination of those remarks that just stabbing
or cracking a Horcrux with the Sword of Gryffindor would not destroy
the Horcrux unless the blade had been steeped in Basilisk venom.

That the sword did indeed absorb Basilisk venom, making it capable of
destroying the soul bit in a Horcrux, is confirmed later. To quote
from my own message 182332 (minus typos):

"In 'The Goblin's Revenge,' after Phineas Nigellus has told HRH that
the last time he saw the Sword of Gryffindor was when DD used it to
break open a ring, Hermione says, 'The sword can destroy Horcruxes!
Goblin-made blades imbibe only that which strengthens them--Harry,
that sword's impregnated with basilisk venom!' (DH Am. ed. 304)"

For more details, you're welcome to read the original post at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/182332

Sidenote: I just came across another reference to the Sword of
Gryffindor coming to any worthy Gryffindor under certain conditions.
Rufus Scrimgeour says, "According to reliable historical sources, the
sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor" (DH Am. ed. a29).
Dumbledore must have known that as well as Scrimgeour does. However,
he has particular reason for trying to will it to Harry (or mention it
in his will with reference to Harry since, as Scrimgeour points out,
it isn't really Dumbledore's to give, or Harry's despite his having
once pulled it out of the Sorting hat). And that reason is, of course,
its ability to destroy Horcruxes now that it has absorbed the Basilisk
venom. 

Carol, who has already answered your other points upthread