Argus Filch

**Argus Filch** was a character in the *Harry Potter book series*.

Filch was a Squib and the caretaker of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was strict and grumpy and loved punishing students for any rule-breaking. He was accompanied by a pet cat, Mrs Norris, and spent a lot of time complaining about things.

## Biography

### Early life

Argus Filch was born to at least one wizarding parent and later found out that he was a Squib. However, he stayed involved in the wizarding world by accepting employment at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the role of the Caretaker.

### Caretaking

#### Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

In September 1991, he asked Professor Dumbledore to tell students at the Start-of-Term Feast they shouldn't use magic in the corridors.

The next day, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley got on the wrong side of Filch when they got lost and attempted to get through a door that led to an out-of-bounds third-floor corridor. Filch wanted to lock them in the dungeons and thought they were trying to get in on purpose, but Professor Quirrell passed by and saved them.

In mid-September, Filch was told that Harry and Ron would be in the trophy room that night. Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom joined them and Filch and Mrs Norris nearly saw them but they run away and escaped. Later in the year, Filch was bandaging a bite wound that Severus Snape got off Fluffy and spoke about the dog, but Harry opened the door and had to run from the room when he was shouted at.

In December, Filch heard a book screaming in the Library. Professor Snape had asked Filch to tell him if anyone was wandering around at night, and he told him that a person was in the Restricted Section of the Library. They searched the Library, but it was in fact Harry who opened it and he snuck away under the Cloak of Invisibility.

In spring 1992, Filch found Harry and Hermione at the foot of the Astronomy Tower sneaking back to their common room past curfew. He took them to Professor McGonagall who gave them detention. For their detention, Filch took Harry, Hermione, Neville and Draco to Rubeus Hagrid at the Hut and told them about the old kind of punishments he wished they still used.

#### Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

In September 1992, Filch supervised Ron when he served detention by cleaning the trophy room. He told Ron to buff the Quidditch Cup fourteen times before he was happy.

In October, he saw Harry dropping dirt in a corridor due to Quidditch training and because he was very angry, he took Harry to the office to fill in a record form and determine a punishment. Nearly Headless Nick helped distract Filch for Harry, who found a letter about a Kwikspell course when he was gone. He opened and read it, and Filch was shocked and embarassed when he thought that Harry had read it and pretended that it was not for him. Harry lied and told Filch he had not read it, but Filch let him go without punishment.

Later, he found Mrs Norris was Petrified and hanging by her tail near a warning that "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir beware". Filch thought that she was dead and thought Harry Potter had killed her because he was standing by her and knew he was a Squib. Dumbledore took Filch elsewhere and told him that that she was not dead but she was Petrified and that it could be undone. Later, Filch wanted to get rid of the warning by using cleaning products but he was unsuccessful. He started sitting in a chair by the wall, guarding the scene.

## Trivia

* Filch was hated by the students but the feeling was mutual. He was controlling and strict, and loved to deal out punishments.

## Notes and sources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 9
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 8
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 7
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 8
5. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 9
6. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 11
7. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 12
8. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 15
9. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 7