Argus Filch

"A pity they let old punishments die. There was a time detention would find you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeon. God, I miss the screaming."

- Argus Filch

Argus Filch was a Squib and the caretaker of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Filch usually wandered around the school corridors, trying to catch students breaking the school rules and complaning about Peeves the Poltergeist. He owned a cat named Mrs. Norris, to which he was very close. In 1992, after Mrs. Norris was petrificated by Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk, Filch was furious; however, his cat was healed by the end of the year. In 1995, when Dolores Umbridge became High Inquisitor at Hogwarts, Filch gladly supported her. The next year, he was responsible for recongnising Dark objects that were brought into Hogwarts. He helped the students leave the school during the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998. After the Second Wizarding War, he possibly returned to his job and continued punishing the students.

Early life
Little is known about Filch's early life, except the fact that he was born to magical parents and that he couldn't perform any kind of magic.

Career at Hogwarts
Filch became caretaker at Hogwarts after Apollyon Pringle. During his years as caretaker, he owned a cat named Mrs. Norris. Filch waged a constant war against the students and Peeves, the school's resident poltergeist. Peeves liked making noise and teasing Filch and Mrs. Norris, and Filch complained about the poltergeist for at least twenty five years. He disliked the students and constantly hassled then over the littlest infraction and took delight in the doling out of detention-worthy write-ups. Filch frequently patrolled the hallways at nighttime, hunting down students wandering out of bed and looking for excuses to give them detentions.

Filch's office contained filing cabinets containing detailed records of all the students Filch had disciplined. It is possible that Filch knew the Marauders (and possibly considered them troublemakers), as he was seen owning their map during the 1990s.

Fred and George Weasley had an entire drawer to themselves. The twins informed Harry Potter that they nicked the Marauder's Map from one of Filch's cabinets, marked "Confiscated and Highly Dangerous." Filch also put his cat follow Rubeus Hagrid when he entered the castle.

Protection of the Philosopher's Stone
In 1991, Filch met Harry Potter and started to dislike him, as he broke the rules several times. He possibly knew about the Philosopher's Stone and that Fluffy was protecting it, as he helped Severus Snape heal his injuries after the latter was bitten by Fluffy. He also punished Harry and Hermione Granger when he found them outside their dormitories at night. Harry met Filch several times, but, as he was under his Invisibility cloak, the caretaker didn't see him.



Re-Opening of the Chamber of Secrets
During the 1992–1993 school year, Filch tried to improve his status as a Squib using a Kwikspell course. This was a failure, and he remained unable to do magic.

At the beginning of the year, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley arrived at school, not by the Hogwarts Express, but by Arthur Weasley's Flying Ford Anglia; Minerva McGonagall, their Head of House, gave them different punishments. Ron had to help Filch clean several metal objects at the Trophy Room. As Filch didn't have a good relationship with the Hogwarts students, Ron didn't appear to be very happy to spend his evening with Filch.

After the Gryffindor Quidditch team trainings, Mrs. Norris saw Harry Potter who was covered in soil and dirt. Soon, Filch discovered Harry and got him to his office. However, before he attemped to punish Harry, Filch heard a noise and realised that Peeves had damaged the Vanishing Cabinet. He left Harry and ran to find Peeves. This, however, made the caretaker excited, as he thought that Dumbledore would kick Peeves out off Hogwarts. However, when he returned to his office, he learned that Harry had read his letter, about Kwikspell courses. Filch was furious and kicked Harry out off his office, trying to convince him that the letter wasn't his, and ordering him not to tell anyone.

During the school year, a mysterious, dangerous monster wandered around the school corridors and attacked people. The first individual to be attacked was Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat, whom he had a very close relationship with. The cat was found petrified, causing Filch tremendous stress and concern; he believed that Harry Potter was the one who petrified her, as he knew that Filch was a Squib. Severus Snape agreed with Filch, not because he had the same opinion, but because he wanted Harry to be punished. However, Dumbledore managed to convince Filch that Harry wasn't the guilty one, as he didn't know how to perform such Dark magic, being twelve years old.

During this time, he became more vicious than ever, and wrote students up simply for being happy. In the same year, four students and Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington were petrified, too.

At the end of the year, Filch learned that the one who petrified Mrs. Norris was the memory of Tom Riddle, the one who controlled Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk. His cat was cured, because of Professor Pomona Sprout's Mandrakes. So, it is possible that (at least, for a short time), Filch stopped being so mean with the students.

The Reing of Dolores Umbridge
During the 1995 school year, when Dolores Umbridge took control of Hogwarts, he was permitted to bring back the "old punishments" and give students whippings, but was given little opportunity to enjoy them as the counterattack against Umbridge was now in full force. She also permitted him to join the Inquisitorial Squad. He helped to catch the D.A.. Because of this, Filch considered Umbridge to be the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts, making him the only staff member known to take her side.

1996 school year
In 1996, he locked the doors of the castle and was responsible for recognising dark objects that students brought into Hogwarts. However, he didn't recognise Draco Malfoy's poison. At Christmas, he caught Draco Malfoy trying to participate at Horace Slughorn's Christmas party. Slughorn eventually let Malfoy participate.

Battle of Hogwarts
During the Battle of Hogwarts, Filch helped the students leave Hogwarts. It is unknown if he fought in the battle in any helpful way.

Later life
After the battle, he possibly returned to his position as a caretaker, and did what he used to; punishing the students and arguing with Peeves the Poltergeist.

Physical appearance
Filch was a rheumatic and hunchbacked man who wheezed and shuffled while he walked. His veins were often prominent. His bulging eyes were a pale light colour and his jowls quivered. He had thin grey hair and often wore a brown coat, though on special occasions he wore an ancient, moth-eaten tailcoat.

His knowledge of the secrets and shortcuts of the castle was nearly unparalleled, only surpassed by Fred and George Weasley and the Marauders, which aided him greatly in his war against Peeves the Poltergeist.

Personality and traits
"A pity they let old punishments die. There was a time detention would find you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeon. God, I miss the screaming."

- Filch fondly reminiscing about old forms of torture on students at Hogwarts

Filch is described as having an extremely unpleasant personality. Despite working at a school, Filch seems to hate children, and he is universally despised by all the students. Filch is quite sadistic and delights in doling out punishments, and is always lamenting that he is not allowed to use corporal punishment on students.

He seems to be bitter and embarrassed about not being able to use magic, as is demonstrated in the 1992–1993 school year when Harry Potter accidentally discovers his Kwikspell papers. Ron Weasley also suspects that Filch is always in such a foul mood due to his status as a Squib. Throughout the series, Filch serves as a constant foil for Harry and his friends. Most of Harry's nighttime adventures end up turning into frightening games of hide-and-seek with Filch.

Filch also has a difficulty in recognizing potions, as he did not notice the Love Potions disguised as perfumes and cough potions by the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, nor did he notice the mead poisoned by Draco Malfoy.

Mrs. Norris
Filch was very attached to his cat, Mrs. Norris. She was a smart, dust-coloured fur and yellow, lamp-like eyes. She appeared to be highly unpleasant, like her master. Filch had a very strong relationship with his cat; they seemed to have a way of communication, as Mrs. Norris usually discovered students breaking rules and ran to Filch, who immediately found the students and punished them. Filch talked to her and called her "my sweet". When she was petrificated by Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk, Filch was very furious; he thought that Harry Potter was the guilty one and wanted the person who killed (as Filch believed) his cat to be expelled.

Peeves
"Haven't you been complaining about him for the last quarter-century? Move!"

- Professor McGonagall sending Filch to find Peeves in order to assist in the defence of Hogwarts.

Filch and Peeves, the Poltergeist, were sworn enemies for over 25 years. Filch never ceased his futile efforts to get Peeves expelled from the castle, and Peeves never stopped taunting Filch. To annoy Filch, Peeves trapped Mrs. Norris in a suit of armour twice, dropped chandeliers and caused general mayhem, which Filch was later responsible for cleaning. It is presumed that this on going war between them continued after the Battle of Hogwarts.

Fred and George Weasley
The twins Fred and George Weasley had a bad relationship with Filch. The caretaker had punished them many times during their Hogwarts years, because they were trouble-makers. Fred and George also "nicked" the Marauder's Map from Filch, while they were in his office. Filch also had a great knowledge of all Hogwarts' passments, only less than Fred and George's. When Dolores Umbridge was appointed at Hogwarts, Filch supported her, and tried to punish the twins again. However, Fred and George escaped Hogwarts, flying with their broomsticks.

Dolores Umbridge
As Dolores Umbridge is a sadist who enjoys torturing students, Filch can relate to this. Also, as Umbridge granted Filch permission to torture misbehaving students, whereas Dumbledore would never even think of such things, the Squib has developed a deep loyalty to her. He is the only person who truly liked her, and expressed depression when she was dismissed. Ron Weasley jokingly suspected this to border to romantics. Umbridge has gone through great lengths to gain Filch's loyalty and likings, such as giving him permission to torture, and to have Peeves dismissed, due to Filch's knowledge around the school's secret passageways being second only to the Weasley twins. Otherwise, she didn't seem to like him much, blaming him for stunning some enchanted fireworks and having it explode all over the place, when it was in fact her own doing (though Filch happily took the blame, due to him liking her). Also, when Filch was tricked into eating Fever Fudge and got pus-filled boils all over him, Umbridge was not pleased.

Hogwarts staff
Filch's relationship with most professors is unknown. The only thing that is known that he respects the most of them, like Professor Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick and Pomona Sprout. McGonagall, however, appeared to be strict with Filch and treat him like an annoying, grumphy person, but she did not dislike him. Yet, she could often be irritated by his behaviour.

Filch also appeared to respect Headmaster Albus Dumbledore very much. Dumbledore also appeared to like Filch, although the latter was unpleasant. When Filch's cat, mrs. Norris, was petrified, Dumbledore seemed to care about Filch and his cat.

As Severus Snape is a strict and somewhat cruel teacher, Filch respects that and acts a loyal subordinate to him. They both love to give students a hard time, unfair punishments, and cruel aspects of such punishments. Snape, in turn, doesn't show much respect to the caretaker, and simply treats him as a minion. Also, while Snape gives leniency to the Slytherin, Filch sees no such mercy.

Filch disliked Rubeus Hagrid, the Gamekeeper and later Care of Magical Creatures professor. Filch thought that Hagrid was an oaf, and he also told Mrs. Norris, his cat, to watch Hagrid when he walked at Hogwarts. Filch also didn't care Hagrid was a professor, and he treated him as an inferior, possibly because he was a half-giant. Hagrid, on his side, called Filch a "filthy Squib", when the latter insulted him. However, Filch helped the students to leave Hogwarts during the battle, and it is possible that his relationship with Hagrid became better after the war.

Etymology

 * The name "Argus" comes from Greek mythology, where it was the name of a giant with one hundred eyes who served the goddess Hera as a watchman (much like Mr. Filch's role in patrolling the hallways of Hogwarts). His surname, "Filch," is an English word meaning "to steal," usually in a sneaky manner.

Behind the scenes

 * Filch is portrayed by David Bradley in all the films to date.
 * Filch's role in the films is much the same as his role in the books, though in the fourth movie he was used more as comic relief. He was seen setting off the cannon to signal the start of a Triwizard task too early, dancing with his cat, and running into the Great Hall in a bizarre manner. Similarly, in the fifth movie, Filch is constantly making unsuccessful attempts to uncover Dumbledore's Army, and is drugged by Fred and George Weasley.
 * In the Harry Potter films, Filch is seen supporting the Slytherin Quidditch team during matches.
 * In the 1995–1996 school year, when Dolores Umbridge let Filch return to the "old punishments", it said "Filch bowed as low as his Rheumatism let him", stating that he suffers from Rheumatism and that he is older than he looks.
 * In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, McGonagall says of Peeves "Haven't you been complaining about him for a quarter of a century?" implying that Filch has been trying to get Peeves thrown out of Hogwarts since at least around 1973.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (film)

Argus Rusard Аргус Филч Argus Voro