When one hears the name Filius Flitwick, it is often the image of a man of short stature (according to the internet, mostly standing on a platform and surrounded by books), wand in hand, teaching charms. Indeed, the title of ‘Professor’ is a leading factor in this matter, however, there is much more to the man's character and his past. Memorable oft for his height, being half-human and half-goblin has been a defining character trait throughout both Filius' life as we know it within the wizarding community, and the Potterverse as a whole. But who really was this man and what was his role in the Magical World of Great Britain?
Flitwick in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Although tarnished by a judging world, Flitwick (Warwick Davis) did not allow for his childhood to be filled with misery, negativity, or achieving anything less than his aspirations and goals. His commitment to his work took on various forms ranging from Professor to Head of House and even Conductor of the school choir. Despite the Sorting Hat struggling to decide between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw for young Filius, it ultimately chose the house that he would come to embody for much of his adult life. It is rather unsurprising, given his courage throughout his life, that he was considered a valiant and brave Gryffindor, but ultimately, his dedication to exploring the world and his affinity for his studies seemed to draw him closer to Ravenclaw. From an early age, he displayed an undeniable skill and flair in his studies, namely in Charms.
"Dumbledore and Flitwick, those model students..."
— A brief description of Flitwick's time at Hogwarts
Upon completing his studies at Hogwarts, passing with flying colours, Filius went on to further hone his skills in charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts, and become a Master Duelist. With all his experience in the field, studying further into magic, he became an accomplished wizard - masterful in spells, charms, and defensive magic. With trophies aplenty to prove his dedication to the craft, he also earned the title of “Dueling Champion”. It is also possible that within this time, Flitwick occupied himself with achieving the accolades of ‘Doctor’ and becoming a fully-fledged and educating sorcerer.
"Flitwick was a duelling champion when he was young..."
— Flitwick's impressive duelling skills
Although the exact date is speculated, at some point prior to or during the early 1970s, Professor Flitwick returned to his old school. Understandably, with a strong background in the field, skilled enough to even surpass Dumbledore, he returned to take on the post of Charms Master.
Remaining seemingly disadvantaged, what he lacked in height, he more than made up for in respect. His rapport with his students was a credit to his “laid-back” nature, including opportunities for his students to indulge in games, empathy to tardiness, and a lack of point deduction that many other Professors, such as Snape, were renowned for.
It seemed this teaching style paid off as we can see various instances of praise and admiration for the professor and later Head of House in both his mannerisms with his Eagles and all his students as a whole. Fred Weasley even went so far as to comment that he "couldn't see old Flitwick getting marked down and he usually gets everyone through their exams alright" which proves that his class had a high success rate. Even the likes of Seamus Finnigan, notorious for blowing things up, and Ron Weasley with his inadequate pronunciation, managed to learn a great deal from the professor. With a tenure reigning over 40 years in the role and Constance Pickering impressively being the only known (and rather horrible) failing student of Professor Flitwick’s career, we can assume that he did more than well in his respective roles.
"Speaking of eccentrics, you'll like our Head of house, Professor Filius Flitwick. People often underestimate him, because he's really tiny (we think he's part elf, but we've never been rude enough to ask) and he's got a squeaky voice, but he's the best and most knowledgeable Charms master alive in the world today. His office door is always open to any Ravenclaw with a problem, and if you're in a real state he'll get out these delicious little cupcakes he keeps in a tin in his desk drawer and make them do a little dance for you. In fact, it's worth pretending you're in a real state just to see them jive."
— Description of Professor Flitwick
Beyond his role as an educator, Flitwick played a crucial part in both the First and Second Wizarding Wars, as he stood firmly against the rising of The Dark Lord. Notably, he was also called upon to protect his students from various powerful curses that were unleashed upon the school as a result of the escapades and misadventures of one of the many young wizards attending the castle.
Although it could be argued that one of his greatest feats would be to intentionally annoy the true villain of the era, Dolores Umbridge, his support in the Second Wizarding War proved his commitment and prowess in his subject. Although his age appeared to fluctuate within the movies which begs the question of his real physical strength, his spellwork was no match for the Death Eaters.
His quick thinking to animate the suit of armour used by Severus Snape amidst his duel with Minerva McGonagall and his standing in the way of the punishments of the Carrow twins upon his students is once more a testament to his quick wit and courage.
During the Battle of Hogwarts, he was seen to have been competently duelling Yaxley prior to Voldemort’s call for a cease in the fighting and upon the resume, he took down the notoriously strong Antonin Dolohov.
What do you think was Professor Flitwick’s most impressive feat?