Professor Flitwick

Biodata

Background / History

In his youth, Flitwick won a European duelling championship. He also devoted himself to Charms research, organizing and modifying existing knowledge in hopes of developing something new 108 263. He later became Hogwarts’ Charms professor and Head of Ravenclaw House 6.

Flitwick initially felt disappointed that Scott Trollope, a Ravenclaw, excelled more conspicuously in Professor McGonagall’s Transfiguration class than in Charms. Once he understood that Scott’s progress reflected a particular talent rather than neglect of other subjects, he became an attentive mentor and gave Scott his original notebook on the fundamentals of Charms 6. He later taught Scott his own method of combining charms and arranged for Professor Babbitty to answer Scott’s Ancient Runes questions outside class 110.

Years later, Flitwick joined the professors Scott invited to help establish a magical university, where he was to have his own classroom for advanced students 576 577.

Appearance

Flitwick is a small, older wizard who stands on stacks of books to teach. In Austria, he altered his features slightly to attract less attention from Muggles, though his stature still drew curious looks 9 110 415.

• Small stature 9
• Somewhat pointed ears and nose 415

Personality

Flitwick is approachable and openly enthusiastic about magic. He prizes wisdom and respects Ravenclaw students’ individual pursuits; Scott’s sustained interest in magical research is a major reason he invests so much in mentoring him 6 108 110 356.

He is also protective of his students. He helped persuade Scott’s parents to leave England when Scott feared they were in danger, offered protective magic for their home, and later promised to see Scott safely out of the country 107 118. His gentle manner does not prevent him from being firm: he says he would have stopped Scott’s second duel with Stryner and punished Stryner had he been present 107.

Abilities & Skills

Charms and magical investigation

Flitwick’s Charms expertise extends beyond the standard Hogwarts curriculum. He teaches Scott a combination-casting method developed through his own research 110.

• Uses investigative spells to determine that Roger’s broom was tampered with through a magical object carrying a powerful curse 31 32.
• Conjures a silver hummingbird Patronus to deliver a spoken message 39.
• Can discern genuine emotions through fluctuations in a person’s magic 42.

Duelling

A former European duelling champion, Flitwick serves as faculty advisor to Hogwarts’ student Duelling Club and later trains Scott directly 207 263 363.

• Fights with precise casting, smooth transitions and flexible movement 364.
• Uses basic charms in training while explaining practical techniques between bouts; Scott finishes exhausted but suffers only minor bruises 364.
• Acknowledges that, despite his own experience in life-or-death fights, Alastor Moody has considerably more of it 450.

Ancient magic and runes

Flitwick researches the restoration of ancient magic, though he tells Scott that this differs from the Ancient Runes work Scott needs for his Transfiguration projects 110.

• Identifies writing on an ancient brass box 357.
• Performs the dangerous Goblin Song ritual to open a Golden Treasure Chest, wearing Ravenclaw’s Diadem to help him read its Ancient Goblin Script 364 365.

Relationships

• Scott Trollope — Student and mentee. Flitwick supports his Charms studies, arranges specialist guidance, protects him from threats and provides intensive duelling training 6 107 110 118 363 364.
• Albus Dumbledore — Fellow professor who confirms Flitwick’s finding about the cursed broom; they later investigate ancient objects together 32 357 365.
• Minerva McGonagall — Fellow professor whose Transfiguration teaching initially inspires Flitwick’s friendly competitiveness over Scott’s progress 6.
• Milton Graves — Ravenclaw student whose feelings Flitwick takes seriously; he accepts Milton’s invitation to a recital abroad 373 415.

Notable Quotes

“Magic is the greatest thing; magic is the most important part of a wizard.” 110

“We prize Wit Beyond Measure.” 354