Realistic situations for melee weapons to be used are very limited. The only way I think it's acceptable is say some one conjures or transfigures a bunch of blades and banish them in to whoever they are fighting.

 

Or you could use a wand. Has the advantage of not having to walk up and hit somebody to be effective.

A prefer a smart Harry.

 

Give him a knife then. Trust me, I've learned from experience that a knife is a shit load more useful and far easier to use than a sword, especially if you don't have the training and experience with the sword.

 

First off, I was planning on giving Krum the blade instead.

And second, I'm killing this idea where it stands.

 

Iztiak, There is a story like that, The wand of Uru, somewhat decent fic where he has a Warhammer and battleaxe.

 

Actually the war hammer made me stop reading the fic. I can think of plenty or reasons for Harry to have a sword. But there is no real reason for Harry to learn how to use a sword/carry one around. Swords as improvised weapons are fine, magic blades that act as an extension of your arm and can block hexes all lightsaber like are not. Hell Harry collecting various weapons is fine, it just gets iffy when he's planing on using it. And that thing about wizards being somehow weak to physical attacks, maybe if their up against another wizard and aren't expecting a physical attack. But a wizard against a muggle, or someone carrying around a sword?

 

Seconding this.

Knives require only a little skill to use. They can be concealed on the body and are quick to draw. If Harry's in close quarters and can't draw his wand for whatever reason, having a backup (silver?) knife makes sense.

Also, if Harry's surrounded by muggles and he needs to make a covert kill, a weapon would be kind of handy...

 

If HArry's gonna make a covert kill, especially around muggles, surely a wand with a cutting curse and then Obliviate would be the best option. It doesn't get much more covert than changing people's memories so that they didnt see it.

 

Covert kill = Avada Kedavra.

"Oh noes, he had a heart attack/stroke/aneurysm!"

 

Lol, what's covert about a bright green light? I suppose at a rave that'd work...

 

An AK and a few memory charms, or just through up an illusion before killing the guy. Either way, at the end of the day, it's more subtle then a lethal wound.

 

Lol, or you could go "Blot" with a massive triple-heart attack curse.

...Or whatever it was called.

 

McDonald's Cheeseburger?

 

Or John McCain.

 

Not bloody likely, the incantation is 'Dick Cheney!'

 

What's covert about a Dementor walking through town sucking all the happiness up? Oh yeah, muggles can't see them. (Apologies if it was explained that they can see magic in the second half of either book 6 or 7, as I haven't read those)

 

Personally, I'd like to read a story where Harry does use a siver knife, but it gets bent into an unusable shape right before/during a CQ fight with werewolves.

I mean, it's silver peoples. Not particularly durable.