Filius Flitwick

**Professor Filius Flitwick** is a character in the *Harry Potter book series*.

Filius was a part-goblin wizard who taught Charms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was the Head of Ravenclaw house, and in his younger days, a duelling champion. During the First and Second Wizarding Wars, he opposed Voldemort and fought in several battles including the Battle of Hogwarts.

## Biography

### Early life and education

Filius Flitwick was born to a wizarding family in the 20th century. He was the descendent of a goblin who lived many generations ago and inherited a short stature. At the age of eleven, he started attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and he was sorted into Ravenclaw house. After graduation, he was a champion dueller.

Flitwick later taught Charms at Hogwarts. He had to stand on a pile of books if he needed to look over his desk. In June 1976, he supervised fifth-years including James Potter when they took the Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. exam. When he announced the exam was over, he had to tell one student, Stebbins to stop writing twice. He used the Summoning Charm to collect the papers but they knocked him over when they went zooming towards him.

### Philosopher's Stone

In the 1991-1992 school year, he began teaching Harry Potter. When he had to say Harry's name for the first time, he was that excited he said it in a high-pitched tone and then fell off the books he was standing on. Later, when he saw Draco and Harry arguing, he stepped in and heard that Harry had a broomstick even though first-years do not have permission to bring one. However, he beamed and explained to Draco that Harry had special permission from Professor McGonagall.

In October, he taught first-years about the Levitation Charm, and poked fun at Baruffio to explain the importance of pronouncing spells properly. He and McGonagall decorated the Hall for the festive holidays in December. In June 1992, Flitwick held the end-of-year Charms exams for the first-years. He told Hermione in private that she had achieved 110%.

### Chamber of Secrets

In September 1992, Flitwick was teaching when Ronald Weasley's broken wand caused the spell he was learning to bounce and hit Flitwick in the middle of the eyes, causing him to grow a huge, green boil. Later in the year Professor McGonagall told him about Colin Creevey being Petrified. He and Professor Sinistra had to take another student, Justin Finch-Fletchley to the Hospital Wing when he was Petrified.

In May 1993, Flitwick was told by Professor McGonagall that a student was taken into the Chamber of Secrets. They, Professor Snape and Professor Sprout decided to tell Professor Lockhart that he was being sent to save her because he told everyone he knew how to find the entrance to it. McGonagall then sent the Head of Houses to tell their students that the school was going to be closed down, which did not happen when Harry found it and spayed the Basilisk.

### Prisoner of Azkaban

At the start of the new school year, Flitwick took over for Professor McGonagall to carry out the Sorting ceremony after Harry was attacked on the Hogwarts Express. Harry arrived at the end when Flitwick was taking the Sorting Hat and chair away.

In October, Flitwick and Remus Lupin were having a cheerful chat in the Great Hall. That evening, when Sirius Black broke into the school, the students were taken to the Great Hall to sleep. Flitwick closed the doors to the Hall before helping to search the castle. A few days later, he retrieved Harry's broomstick when it fell into the Whomping Willow and brought it to the Hospital Wing.

## Appearance

Flitwick is a "tiny little wizard", who looks like "a small old man" with a shock of grey hair.

## Notes and sources

1. ↑ According to *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, Chapter 28, he was teaching in June 1976. He had to be at least 17 then to have graduated school.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.K. Rowling's old website (archived) - Filius Flitwick's background
3. ↑ J.K. Rowling's old website (archived)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, Chapter 28
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 11
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 8
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 10
8. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 12
9. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 16
10. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 7
11. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 16
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 5
13. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 8
14. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 9