Allies the Order never made

[sunnyskywalker]

We hear of several Order members’ missions-mostly unsuccessful-to convince various groups not to join Voldemort, and perhaps fight him instead. Remus tries “reasoned argument” with the werewolves, Hagrid and Maxime give gifts to the Gurg of the giants, and Charlie maybe talks to his dragon-handler friends. Dumbledore himself has apparently been

Comments

[oryx_leucoryx]

How many wizards know about goblin culture enough to know they want the sword and why? The kids have been studying about 'boring' goblin rebellions for years, one of their teachers is part-goblin, yet they only learn about goblin property ideas from Bill when the matter becomes plot-relevant.

(I wonder what Flitwick's status is in the goblin community? Does his ancestry mean anything to them at all? Does he have any connection with goblin cultural heritage?)

How many goblin-made artifacts are mentioned over the course of the series in throwaway lines? So far we have the sword, the helmet that was given to the giants, and Aunt Muriel's tiara.

[sunnyskywalker]

Good question. Bill knows, and could have advised Dumbledore if Dumbledore floated the idea of negotiating with the goblins. If Dumbledore didn't already know--which he might have. He knows how to speak Mermish and presumably a few things about Mer culture; why not Gobbledegook and goblin culture too? Unless he only studied beings who live on or adjacent to Hogwarts grounds

[sunnyskywalker]

Oh, just found this: there are also goblets in Grimmauld Place of "finest fifteenth-century goblin-wrought silver, embossed with the Black family crest." I bet Sirius would have gladly given those up for the war effort. Maybe the goblins didn't want them back?

[oryx_leucoryx]

Were these the goblets that Aberforth bought back from Mundungus? Maybe there was some last moment attempt to deal with the goblins after all.

[ext_6058021]

Good point about alternate methods of Horcrux destruction but what kills me is that Harry was never taught Fiendfyre. A spell which arguably can destroy more things than a sword which is important when you don't know if Voldemort couldn't have made a suit of plate or something one of his Horcruxes.