Filius Flitwick

Professor Filius Flitwick was a diminutive but exceptionally powerful wizard who served as the Charms Master and Head of Ravenclaw House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Known for his cheerful demeanor and prodigious magical talent, especially in Charms and dueling, Flitwick was a steadfast and loyal member of the Hogwarts staff under Albus Dumbledore. Despite his small stature, he proved to be a formidable combatant, playing a crucial role in the defense of the school during the Second Wizarding War against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Professor Flitwick's early life is not detailed in the novels, though it is known he had been teaching at Hogwarts for many decades prior to Harry Potter's arrival. He taught the generation of students that included James Potter, Lily Evans, and Sirius Black. During Harry's first year, Flitwick contributed to the protections guarding the Philosopher's Stone. He enchanted a large number of winged keys, requiring an intruder to identify and catch the correct one to proceed. He was an enthusiastic teacher, often seen standing on a pile of books to see over his desk, and was moved to tears when Hermione Granger successfully performed the Levitation Charm, Wingardium Leviosa. In Harry's second year, Flitwick assisted Gilderoy Lockhart in running the short-lived Dueling Club, where he demonstrated his expertise alongside Severus Snape. Throughout the series, he remained a consistent and fair presence at the school. During the tenure of Dolores Umbridge in Harry's fifth year, Flitwick privately expressed his disapproval of her methods. When Fred and George Weasley set off a magical swamp in a corridor, Flitwick pointedly left a small patch of it untouched after Umbridge's departure, considering it “a really good bit of magic” and a monument to the twins. He was later stunned by Umbridge and her cronies when they attempted to forcibly remove Hagrid from the grounds. In the Second Wizarding War, Flitwick's loyalty to Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix was unwavering. Before the Battle of Hogwarts, he was instrumental in casting powerful defensive enchantments over the castle, including the Protego Maxima, Fianto Duri, and Repello Inimicum spells. During the battle itself, he fought bravely on the front lines, engaging and defeating several Death Eaters, including Yaxley and Antonin Dolohov.

Filius Flitwick is described as a very tiny wizard with a shock of white hair. To teach his classes, he had to stand on a stack of books to be able to see his students over his desk. He has a squeaky voice. His personality is generally cheerful, excitable, and good-natured. He is an encouraging teacher who takes great pride in his students' successes. He is also shown to be quite emotional, both in moments of happiness and distress. Beneath his gentle exterior, however, lies immense courage and loyalty. He did not hesitate to stand against Dolores Umbridge's tyrannical regime or to fight valiantly to protect his students and school from Voldemort.

• Charms Master: As the Charms professor at Hogwarts, Flitwick's knowledge and application of Charms were second to none. His work on the enchanted keys for the Philosopher's Stone's protection is a prime example of his skill.
• Dueling: Flitwick was a highly accomplished duelist. He demonstrated his skill in the Dueling Club and proved his mettle during the Battle of Hogwarts, where he defeated multiple powerful Death Eaters in combat. It is suggested he may have been a dueling champion in his youth (Pottermore).
• Defensive Magic: His role in erecting the magical barriers around Hogwarts before the final battle demonstrates his mastery of powerful protective enchantments.

• Wand: Professor Flitwick owned and used a wand, though its wood, core, and length are unknown.
• Pile of Books: While not a possession in the traditional sense, he was rarely seen in his classroom without the stack of books he used as a platform to stand on.

As Head of Ravenclaw, Flitwick was a respected colleague of the other Heads of House, Minerva McGonagall, Pomona Sprout, and Severus Snape. He worked closely with them, particularly McGonagall and Sprout, in running the school and defending it. He was unfailingly loyal to Albus Dumbledore and his principles. He held a deep-seated dislike for Dolores Umbridge and her authoritarian control over Hogwarts. He was generally well-liked by students, whom he treated with fairness and encouragement.

• Filius: This is Latin for “son,” a common-sounding name that offers little specific insight on its own.
• Flitwick: The verb “to flit” means to move swiftly and lightly, which could be a reference to his small size and quick movements. Flitwick is also the name of a town in Bedfordshire, England.

• Goblin Ancestry: J.K. Rowling revealed that Professor Flitwick has distant goblin ancestry, which accounts for his small size. He is, however, a wizard and not a goblin (Pottermore).
• Film Portrayal: In the Harry Potter films, Flitwick is portrayed by actor Warwick Davis. His appearance changes significantly after the second film. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, he is depicted as an elderly, white-bearded figure with a more goblin-like appearance. From Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban onwards, he appears much younger, with dark hair, a mustache, and a more human-like appearance, directing the Hogwarts frog choir. This second appearance was initially intended to be a different character, the “Choir Master,” but director Alfonso Cuarón and eventually the production team decided this would be the new look for Flitwick going forward (film).