From Draco to Filch
Oct. 1st, 2003 03:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thistlechaserA close-up of Filch is on today's page-a-day calendar. The caption makes me sad though: "Argus Filch, the caretaker at Hogwarts, is loathed by the students."
(Ignoring OotP) I know he's grumpy and gruff, but I have to wonder if *all* students hate him so much. Wouldn't there be at least a few sensitive ones who would smile at him now and then? Pat Mrs. Norris? Say hello in the beginning of the year? I'd like to think so. *I* would. (Yes, even when I was a kid I tended to try to cheer ever-grumpy people up. No, it didn't usually work, but even if there weren't outward signs of success, I had hoped that it makes the person feel a little better inside.)
I say 'ignoring OotP' because ... Because. I hate calling "plot hole!" and the like on JKR, but. Well. I know Filch says he wants to torture the kids, but if he really did want that, then there's no way Dumbledore would keep him around. If he's still there in the next book, my eyebrows will lift very high and I'll throw something in the direction of England. (Why would Dumbledore keep him around when he sided so openly with Umbridge?)
I keep Filch in my 'Men who really only need a hug to improve' box. He can keep Snape company in there.
(Ignoring OotP) I know he's grumpy and gruff, but I have to wonder if *all* students hate him so much. Wouldn't there be at least a few sensitive ones who would smile at him now and then? Pat Mrs. Norris? Say hello in the beginning of the year? I'd like to think so. *I* would. (Yes, even when I was a kid I tended to try to cheer ever-grumpy people up. No, it didn't usually work, but even if there weren't outward signs of success, I had hoped that it makes the person feel a little better inside.)
I say 'ignoring OotP' because ... Because. I hate calling "plot hole!" and the like on JKR, but. Well. I know Filch says he wants to torture the kids, but if he really did want that, then there's no way Dumbledore would keep him around. If he's still there in the next book, my eyebrows will lift very high and I'll throw something in the direction of England. (Why would Dumbledore keep him around when he sided so openly with Umbridge?)
I keep Filch in my 'Men who really only need a hug to improve' box. He can keep Snape company in there.
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Date: 2003-10-01 04:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-01 06:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-01 06:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-01 08:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-01 04:43 pm (UTC)Make that Scotland, please! Hogwarts is in Scotland, JKR is in Scotland... it's just not fair to blame us poor little Englanders!
But yeah, I'm in total agreement with you; I never thought Filch was irredeemable and was stunned at his behaviour in OoP. Peeves, too. Both of them were miserable/aggravating bastards, but almost likeable, in my eyes.
Having said that, I don't care much for the 'then there's no way Dumbledore would keep him around' argument. Dumbledore is a total t00b when it comes to hiring staff. Questionable actions = canonical!Dumbledore.
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Date: 2003-10-01 05:59 pm (UTC)Big oops! I knew what I meant, but my fingers typed something different! (Unless... hmmm. You're to blame, aren't you? *You* are JKR in disguise, come to spy on all of us! I've found you out!)
Having said that, I don't care much for the 'then there's no way Dumbledore would keep him around' argument. Dumbledore is a total t00b when it comes to hiring staff. Questionable actions = canonical!Dumbledore.
You know, you're right. I keep expecting, you know, reasonable actions out of him. Silly me!