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harry potter - What was Filch doing during the battle of Hogwarts?


I can't remember whether Filch was even mentioned during the last book.


Given the Ministry's strong rules against Muggle-borns, it could be assumed they might have somehow tried to dispose of squibs as well, but it seems unlikely, since at least in the school he would be under the teachers' protection.


Was he a participant during or before the battle of Hogwarts? I vaguely remember Mrs. Norris being mentioned somewhere during the battle, but not Filch. Did he escape, hide or fight with the wizards? Is it mentioned anywhere what happened to him after the battle?


PS: I have seen this where it says he helped students escape, but does not cite any references, and might even be describing the movie. If Filch is indeed mentioned in the last book, please provide the relevant quotes.




Answer



The last two mentions of Filch I can find in the book are in Chapter 31 - The Battle of Hogwarts:



“… evacuation will be overseen by Mr. Filch and Madam Pomfrey. Prefects, when I give the word, you will organize your House and take your charges, in an orderly fashion, to the evacuation point.”



And:



“Thank you, Miss Parkinson,” said Professor McGonagall in a clipped voice. “You will leave the Hall first with Mr. Filch. If the rest of your House could follow.”



Mrs. Norris is mentioned a bit later than Filch, just after the battle has started:




Along yet another corridor he [Harry] dashed, and then there were owls everywhere, and Mrs. Norris was hissing and trying to bat them with her paws, no doubt to return them to their proper place.



No further mentions of either of them, so we have to speculate. I'm not entirely sure what an old Squib would actually be able to do to help in a battle between wizards and magical creatures so I doubt he'd be involved in the fighting. I'm also not sure he'd be willing to leave Hogwarts without Mrs. Norris. Perhaps he stayed in the Room of Requirement to direct any latecomers going to or from the battle itself.


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