A friend pointed out something to me the other day while watching the deleted scenes on the Chamber of Secrets DVD... she hadn't read the books (except the first one) but she made me think about something...

Can Filch see?

When you see him in the movies he doesn't ever really seem to be looking at anything does he? I'd never really thought about it before... perhaps that's the reason for Mrs Norris? She *does* tell him where all the rule-breaking students are afterall.

I know that he can get around without her, but I think it's a worthwhile question to ask anyway... I'm going to look through the movies and books to see if I can find anything that totally denounces this question, but there's nothing I can think of off-hand.

Just curious to see what you all think.

[edit]

After watching scenes of CoS I've decided that Filch *can* see most likely, or at least sense stuff that's going on. However, I don't think he see's like everyone else does... there's something off about the way he looks at things. ya know?

I mean, in attitude, Filch is a lot like Snape... only slightly more crazy lol, and Snape is constantly using "piercing glares" on people... you'd figure Filch, who seems to hate everything about Hogwarts, would too wouldn't he? But he doesn't... he barely even looks at people. Something seems very weird...

[/edit]

Perhaps he is short sighted. But lacking in personal appearance he won't go to an optometrist? hehehehehe... Maybe he has never talked about it to anyone.

Or perhaps they made him like that to look silly?

But he reacted to the sight of Mrs Norris hung up on that wall....and he said, 'You saw what he wrote on the wall.' He wouldn't have known about that at the time unless he could see because Mrs Norris had been petrified by then......

Yes I think that they just made him like that for effect. It is a good idea about Mrs. Norris being his eyes though.

oh! very good question, mate!
i think he's just nearsighted!
or probably he got a blurred vision!

Whoa, between the 'Can Filch see?' and the 'When does Filch sleep?' threads, there's been quite the little upsurge in members' fascination with Filch lately!

I definitely don't think that Filch is blind... as Louise mentioned, he was able to see Mrs. Norris and the message on the wall in "Chamber of Secrets." They probably just make him stare all over the place in the movies to make him look stupid.... it's funny, because Filch looking in random directions reminds me oddly of the scene in the "Sorcerer's Stone" movie in which Oliver Wood is teaching Harry about the rules of Quidditch. When Harry lets go of the Snitch, it's flying to the left of Oliver's head, but Oliver is looking to the right. Okay, weird tangent there... I'm getting a little tired... staying up past my bedtime...

*ahem*

The question about Filch and his vision that I find more interesting is whether he is able to see things that ordinary Muggles can't since he is a Squib. If I were to go to Hogwarts (hypothetically, of course... ), would I be able to see Peeves and the ghosts? It's obvious that Filch can. And that brings us back to the question of whether Squibs really can see other certain magical creatures that regular Muggles don't know about.... things like dementors... (was Mrs. Figg lying at the hearing?)

...

Okay, I'm going to bed now. My posts are getting progressively less coherent, and when I start making links between different topics, I know that I'm headed for real trouble.

Hmm..yes, I think that he can *see*. But the real question is why he can see Hogwarts. Hermione says that if a Muggle goes to Hogwarts, they see a broken down castle with a sign over it say "BEWARE" or something like that. So if Filch can see the castle, like he obviously does, what does that mean for Squibs?

What is the difference between a Squib and a full-fledged Muggle? Our definition of one is a muggle born to wizard parents, very rare. Now, if my theories on the magic gene are correct, and all wizards are homozygous recessive for magic, then how are Squibs born? It would have to be some sort of genetic mutation...and with magic, I don't think that mutations are as "normal" as they are for muggles...something crazy could happen. You never know.

Oi, sorry, I just realized how off topic I was. Could we get some sort of topic change/creation on the properties of Squibs, or is there already one?

A Squib is almost the opposite of a Muggle-born wizard: he or she is a non-magical person born to atleast one magical parent. Squibs are rare; magic is a dominant and resilient gene.

Well I've done a search and there doesn't seem to be a thread currently discussing Squibs in general, so yeah, if you wish to discuss this topic in much detail, go for it.

Thanks Ashleigh. Well, I've got a crazy theory on Squibs that's rather ingenious in my opinion. I've got it all in the link in my profile, though the site as a whole is kind of embarrassing.

But in order for magic to be so uncommon and for Muggle parents to have wizard children, magic has to be a recessive gene. I'm sorry, but I think JK made a mistake when she said that. Anyways, I've come up with a great little theory as for how a recessive gene, which would require homozygous parents, can have non-expressive children. And no, I do not think Filch is the HBP, just a Squib somehow.

i think a Squib is something like a "dud" lol im serious though; some people dont even need ANY magical parents to become a wizard, but some squibs DO have a single magical parent but dont show any magical powers by the age of 11. Now i wonder, maybe some squibs show magical power after it is too late - hmm. But anyway, she said it is VERY rare so that means magic can still be dominant, but being dominant doesnt mean its going to overcome the non-magical parents genes every time. Genes are never sure things! it might be something of a mutation after all. Or just the luck of the draw with having just one parent. There is always the slight risk, it seems.

Also - Squibs, in my opinion, have magical blood flowing through their veins, but do not have enough to focus it all do, say, do a spell and be able to attend Hogwarts. JK says the can't PERFORM magic, but doesnt say they dont have a slight magical 'twist' ,per se, to them. Also if that theory is not true, the barriers around Hogwarts and at the QWC were 'MUGGLE' barriers, keyword muggle, not squib barriers. I dont think Dumbledore, or the people who setup the barriers would allow such a techneqality.

Ah, but according to the explanation given us (by Ron?) in CoS, they're muggles from wizard parents. Basically the opposite of muggle born wizards.

And actually, if someone possesses a dominant gene, it pretty much comes through. You're right, it could be mutations, but on the scale that muggles out number wizards? Doubtful.

I have decided, and this is just my theory, that magic is a multigenic recessive trait. That's how muggle born wizards can be born; if it is recessive, then muggles can be "carriers." And my theory is that the multigenic comes in with the wizards that are more powerful, and in Squibs.

I think that Squibs have enough of the magic expressed in their phenotype to be able to see Hogwarts etc. To be magical, basically. But they do not possess the "minimum requirement" for someone to be a wizard. Now, this could just be mutations, but you don't usually get one gene changing to another gene, as would be necessary for wizards to give birth to Squibs. All wizards would have to be homozygous recessive, and therefore would not possess the dominant muggle traits on their genes.

So my crazy theory is that Squibs are all related, however distantly. And that they are Squibs because someone cursed their family line to promote the reproduction of these magically altered cells. Why? I'm not sure, but it makes sense that they could possibly be royal.

We all know that JK doesn't usually throw in subtle hints as red herrings, right? They're usually big stuff, stuff that gets us so concentrated on it that we forget the subtle stuff. Many people have noticed the same initials that Filch and Figg have, and written it off as simply an inside joke by the author. But what if it is because all the descendants of this royal line have the initials AF?

If thats true, or even partly, it's starting to look like a Squib could be the HBP.

Figure this; if a powerful/royal wizard was unable to be destroyed by any other alive at the time, and if each successive generation would become steadily more powerful (again, the multigenic seems to work), it would make sense to curse the line of this wizard so that it would decrease the amount of magic expressed in the genes. But the person, either by accident or design, pushed the magic levels to below the minimum required to be able to perform magic as we know it. Since these people had no powers, they would be written off as a phenomenon and muggles. Eventually the royal line would be all muggle or simply disregarded, judging by the disgrace a Squib in the family would be. They would, after a few generations, be forgotten.

But nobody has ever studied Squibs. Afterall, the Wizengamot didn't even know if they could see dementor's or not, and you'd expect the governing body to know things like this. So what if they had a power or ability that is not capable for a wizard? I know it's extremely outlandish and unlikely, but I doubt I'm wrong on all the points. I think Squibs will play a more important role coming up, or we will at least learn some more about them. And it could very well be the HBP...

Wow. That is a great theory, Quality Quidditch Supplies... one of the best-thought-out comments that I have seen around here in a while. I am so floored by the logic of all of this that I'm not even sure how to respond besides saying 'wow' in a very stupid way.

My own genetic theory with regard to wizards, Muggles, and Squibs is a bit different from yours -- I've also been thinking about how we can genetically explain wizardry since I took a course about it (genetics, that is, not wizarding genetics!) a couple summers ago -- and I'm still sort of fiddling around with the ideas in my mind. Where you've assumed that the wizarding allele is recessive and the Muggle allele is dominant, I've assumed the reverse -- and that wizards are relatively uncommon compared to Muggles simply because of the low allele frequency of the dominant gene (Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium or something? Ring a bell? Sorry that I'm a little rusty on my bio... I've just come out of two straight years of chem... ), like the way six fingers is dominant but you hardly ever see it because there simply aren't enough dominant genes in the gene pool. I personally like the wizarding-as-a-dominant-gene way of looking at things because by coincidence, a year after I started thinking about the topic, J.K. Rowling posted in the 'Extra Stuff' section of her site that 'Squibs are rare; magic is a dominant and resilient gene.' I don't know whether she was trying to talk scientifically here or what, but I just like the way my genetics theory tallies with the way I've chosen to interpret her statement (note -- my interpretation of her statement may be slightly biased given that my theory came before her statement in the first place ). Either way, I think that the only way to explain wizarding genes is multiple alleles. Say that there are two alleles that 'code' for the wizard phenotype... if you've got the dominant wizard gene for both of them, you're a wizard, if you've got the homozygous recessive Muggle genes for both of them, you're a Muggle, and if you're dominant for one of the two genes and recessive for the other, you're a Squib, and while you have some magical powers, you don't have all of them. Perhaps you can see dementors, Hogwarts, etc. if you are a Squib, but you just can't use a wand. My point is (and I believe that this was your point as well), if you've got one of the wizarding genes and one of the Muggle genes, you have some of the characteristics of both wizards and Muggles.

.... Am I making any sense whatsoever?

Moving along, it also struck me as extremely suspicious that the Wizengamot didn't know whether Squibs could see dementors. You'd think that this sort of thing would be relevant to upholding the law in many instances, and if Mrs. Figg was lying in the hearing (i.e. she couldn't see the dementors), I am frankly stunned that she was able to pull that one over Amelia Bones.

I agree with you entirely that Squibs could be a major aspect of the plotline in the coming books. Not only has the premise of Squib-dom been vaguely introduced and not yet elaborated upon (like the Metamorphmagi), but Squibs have been absolutely wonderfully set up as an oppressed underclass like the house-elves. They can see into the wizarding world, they can work at Hogwarts, they can testify in court, but they're basically doomed for life... a weird class of people that have no place in either the Muggle world (since they know about wizards) or the wizarding world (since they can't use a wand). A glass ceiling, if you will.... Since oppression and prejudice has emerged as such a central theme of the series ('purebloods' vs. 'Mudbloods,' house-elves, centaurs, etc.), it seems logical that Squibs should follow in this vein.

Once again, great comments, Quality Quidditch Supplies.... and if you feel that I've misinterpreted anything that you said (once again I find my eyes bugging out of my head as I sit at the computer past my appropriate bedtime), please let me know.

EDIT: I've retitled and moved this topic, seeing as we've sort of gone off both Filch and the movies here...

No, Allie, you've got it pretty good for after your bed time.

I came to the horrifying conclusion that JK had made a mistake, because the frequency of the muggle born wizards is much higher than the frequency of the squibs, which implies that magic is the recessive gene, and muggles are capable of being carriers. Kind of like hemophelia, but nicer.

Also, since Squibs are born with magic involved somewhat, I figure a spell or something could be cast to cause these gene malfunctions. Then, just because it would be mean to do that to someone you've never met, I formulated my theory for the royal family. It's all in my site.

Which also explains the Half Blood Prince's name. We've been thinking a wizard with muggle ancestry, but it could very well be Squibs are considered half-bloods. Hmmm....

Yes, I thought about the Hardy Weinburg, but that requires non-selective mating, and...well...wizards are kind of selective. That gets rid of the allele holding strong, but it could also increase the mutation frequency.....

I think I'll go with mine, because...well...it's mine. I guess I'm kind of biased.

QQS-so your saying that the muggle gene overpowers the magical gene? if you are saying that then that would mean, since you say the dominant gene almost always comes through, that there would be almost NO muggle born wizards because their parents muggle blood would outrule a brother or sister or uncles magic blood. if magic comes through in two muggles to create a wizard child doesnt that mean that the magical gene is dominant?

also it is not uncommon for genes to have mutations. so when a muggle and wizard come together, the wizard could have muggle family ALL around him and maybe the last wizard was like a great great great great grandfather. a person like that would probably end up creating a squib if paired with a muggle

Yes, it always comes through. But genes are a pair of alleles which together make up the phenotype. It only requires one dominant allele to make the gene phenotypically dominant. So a muggle could have one muggle allele and one magic allele, but still be a muggle. Not so with wizards. So muggles could be carriers of the magic alleles. So when two muggles have children, if they are both carriers, then they could both donate a recessive magic allele to the offspring, resulting in the proportionately common muggle born wizards.

And I don't think that Squibs would be muggles born from a muggle parent and a wizard parent. Didn't Ron describe them as the opposite of muggle born wizards? Now, we can't always trust Ron, he doesn't know what he's talking about most of the time, but I think we can deduce that this means TWO wizard parents, otherwise they would never have come up with a name for them.

But like I said, either theory works. So i guess we just have to decide.

lol yeah - maybe they will talk about them in HBP or the 7th installment. Yeah they are the opposite of muggleborn wizards, JK Rowling said it as well so she must have been speaking through ron

since it is now changed into properties and abilities of squibs, i think i'm going to share some of my ideas aside form my idea with regards to filch.
if i'm not mistaken, mrs. figg is also a squib right???
and we all know that filch is also a squib as what is mentioned in CoS.
i think squibs also know a bit of magic (kwikspell) and i think that they do possess the knowledge and other stuffs related to the wizarding world.(like mrs. figg)
i'm also thinking if aunt petunia was a squib, since she also know voldemort right??? anyways, this mystery will be anwered in the next books! so i guess i'll just have to wait!

Just a theory thats floating in my head. Its not a prediction for the books, more of a general wondering.

Can squibs, or even muggles play quiditch. Being a wizard doesnt give you a huge advantage, as shown with Hermione's lack of ability at flying.

Do you have to be magical to make a broom fly, or is it the broom that is magical?

Magic doesnt allow wizards / witches to have greater reflexes, or better sight..

So is it possible.. could muggles play quidditch?

I dont know, the only squibs we really know are Filch and Figgs, and I'm pretty sure neither of them has been on a broom.

As for muggles, well we know they have had brushes with magical items, but it's usually with disasterous effects (knowledge courtesy of Mr.Weasley)

I think the main problem would be that squibs and muggles cant actually control a magical item, like brooms, which we know are enchanted.

So in that case, if they were to try to play a Quidditch match, well ... the result would not be pretty, to say the least.

Yeah Raz, I see what you mean.. and Quidditch matches are rarely pretty anyway.. Harry has;

Nearly choked on the snitch, broken then lost all the bones in his arm, been attacked by demontors, and more JUST playing it.

Maybe muggles and quidditch really don't go together.. i just thought it was a cool idea

i don't know if muggles can play quidditch. i don't know about squibs because i really don't know what that mean. i kinda missed out on that one but please tell me what it is.

well first off to answer your question bianca a squib is a non magic person who is born to magical parents...kind of like the opposite of Hermione..or a magical person born to muggles...about squibs or muggles playing quidditch..I always just assumed that you had to be magical to use a magical object so I didnt really think it was possible...but then again I have been wrong before lol I think it would be funny to see a bunch of people who had no clue how to use a magical object trying too (that is if they could ) haha now that is something I would pay to see

thanks pigwidigon for telling me what a squib is! i really missed out on that one! lol! thanks again!

hmm... I don't know...
I think Squib's and muggles can play quidditch. We know that the brooms are entchanted and as mentioned above: wizards don't have better reflecses and sight as muggles. I think it quiditch comes with talent and training as it does with almost everything. You need traing and experience to learn something new. Of coures certain people have talent for certain things.
All though a muggle don't have magical powers I think that a muggle could play quidditch and play well with some training.
I don't see any reason that a muggle wouldn't be able to fly a broom or play quidditch.

A squib is a 'wizard' who really isnt a wizard at all. It's a muggle born to wizard parents.

Dementors, Hogsmead, various wizard-made products, and even Hogwarts itself...

All these things/places are things that are suppose to only be visable to wizards, yet Filtch (who is a squib) can obviously see all these things. How is this possible? Do you think the ministry has gone out of it's way to accomadate for this one squib? Or maybe all squibs are granted the ability to see certain things?

What are your opinions and thoughts on the matter?

All squibs can see magical things. Mrs. Figg said at the trial that she could see the dementor that attacked Harry and Dudley at the beginning of the 5th book.

It's probably because they all grew up around magic at home but the first time they realised the didn't have any magic in them was probably when they didn't receive their Hogwart's letters.

From what I remember Mrs Figgs testified to seeing the Dementors, but she actually didn't see them, she felt them. Remember how she described them as running down the Alley way and they baulked and said 'Dementors dont run dear, they float!', and Mrs Figg got all nevous cos she was caught out, but either way she still felt them acuratly so they counted her evidence.

When it comes to Hogwarts and Filch, maybe he has been charmed so he can see it, or maybe he was taken in there by a wizard and once inside the unplottableness and muggle repellants wouldn't work, I dont know really.

Before this drifts too far off topic, can I just mention two threads...

Whether Mrs Figg lied at the hearing or not is being (or was) discussed here, while a general topic about the properties and abilities of squibs and Muggles can be found here.

So, I think we need to stick to Filch in particular on this thread, or else I'm afraid I'll have to close it and redirect people to those two links I've just given.

no, razzberry's right...squibs cant see dementors...they can just vaguely feel their presence...and she didnt see what the dementors were doing...she just saw what Harry and Dudley did...thats it! and i really dont know about Filch...i never thought about him before now... i wonder how??

Here's my theory. Since magic is a strong dominant gene, if the Squib can't PERFORM magic, i believe that there are different genes to handle the performance of magic and to handle the sight and sensing of magical creaturees, which leads me to believe that the sight and sensing of magical creatures cannot be eliminated, otherwise some squibs would be unable to sense magical creatures, yet in the books and movies all the squibs are able to sense magical creatures, and Mrs. Figg was able to see and describe the dementors, showing that she can sense and see magical creatures as well as a wizard, which Dudley was unable to do, he could only feel the lack of happiness that permeates the air around the dementors. So if my theory is correct and the gene handling magical creatures sight and sensing, then Filch would still be able to see the castle and the other magical creatures that hang around the Hogwarts Castle and Grounds.