Quite obviously, Harry Potter is the story of none other than Harry Potter, the boy who lived and the only wizard capable of defeating who must not be named, Lord Voldemort. At the same time, Harry’s journeys are complemented by the many character around him. You’ll rarely find someone whose favorite character is Harry and for good reason: the other characters are way more interesting. This isn’t to say Harry isn’t a compelling char🦹acter in his own right- he very much is- but that the supporting players around him ultimately are the ones who bring the Wizarding World to life.
Easi꧅ly one of Harry’s most popular cohorts, Draco Malfoy has always been a fan favorite. Harry’s personal bully, Draco grows quite a bit over the course of the series, coming into his own and ending the series a good man… right? Well, not really, actually. In truth, Draco isn’t nearly as prominent as we’ve been led to believe. He shows up every book, but his roles aren’t exactly substantial in the grand scheme of things. The way Rowling writes Draco naturally leads to fans misinterpreting or misremembering details. As a result, Draco- while quite popular- is also one of༒ the most misunderstood characters in the franchise.
25 Draco Bareꦜly Appears 𓃲
Considering just how much Draco is mentioned in the books and how often his mere presence influences the narrative, it’s easy to misremember Draco’s exact role in the oveꦕrarching narrative. He’s a mover and a shaker. Whenever Draco is involved, it’s𓂃 bound to be a big deal.
At least his appearances are important.
Except Draco isn’t involved all that often, at least not physically. As far as actual🦋 appearances go, Draco is mentioned far more than he is seen. His role in the story is l✨ess that of a present instigator and more someone who directs the action from the background. We always have him in mind because Harry constantly thinks about it, but he rarely appears.
24 🌳 ও Draco Isn’t As Hardened As He Lets On
Th🐈roughout the series, when Draco does actually appear, he puts on a hard, antagonistic front. Every interaction he has with Harry after their firs♒t meeting is coated in layers of resentment and general hatred. It gives off the impression that Draco really is nothing more than a schoolyard bully.
While this is true to some extent, especially in the earlier books, it’s worth considering how later revelations about Draco reframe these earlier interactions. 🐲He ꦓis someone clearly influenced by his parents and the expectations of being a Slytherin. Draco is forcing himself to act cold and aloof as per his role. Would a hardened boy cry his eyes out to Moaning Myrtle?
23 Draco Isn’t As Well ༒Liked As Harry Lets On
Given that we rely on Harry’s perspective to really zone in on who Draco is as a character, we naturally get ꦦquite a few details mixed up or flat out wrong. This isn’t a flaw of Rowling’s writing, but a strength. Harry is an unintentional narrator, and his bias influences how we perceive any given text while creating a more nuanced experience.
It's easy to assume everyone likes your bully.
As a result, where Harry sees a Draco who is well loved by his school and faculty, the sub-text offers the idea that Draco really is not all that liked. He barely has any friends, he more or less coasts through schools in non-Snape taught classes, and it seems like the Hogwarts populace ignor𓆏es him more often than not.
22 🌌 Draco Genuinely Wanted To Be Harry’s Friend
The real villain of Draco’s and Harry’s dynamic isn’t Draco Malfoy, but his father, Lucius Malfoy🤡. In their first meeting, Draco actually wanted to be friends with Harry. He clearly extends a hand out to him, wanting to connect. Had Harry been placed into Slytherin, the two would have li🍃kely become fast friends.
The problem is, even then, Lucius would have poisoned the well. Luciusꦬ’ dislike of Harry, per his loyalty to Voldemort, would have clouded Draco’s perception of the boy. That said, this doesn’t c🌜hange the fact that, independent of Lucius’ presence, Draco’s first instinct was to befriend Harry.
21 Draco’s Arrogance Is A Front ♔
In the same way that Draco is nowhere near as hardcore as he lets on, he’s also not nearly as arrogant. He is a boy with severe insecurities stemming from his background, home life, and perceived need to live up to his father’s legacy. Draco puts on an arrogant front because it is expected of him in every respect. What’s worse is that Draco actually needs to live up to his arrogance. He can’t just be cocky, he needs to prove he’s “allowed” to. It’s no wonder he spends the ent൲ire sixth year breaking down in an abandoned bathroom with a perverted ghost.
20 Draco Forced Himself To Close Off Emotionally 🎐
On the subject of Draco’s sixth year, his breakdo🔯wns stem precisely from the expectations forced on him to take Dumbledore’s life at the end of the year. Knowing that he’d need to slay his Headmaster sooner rather than later, he is forced to tℱake Occlumency lessons with Bellatrix.
When you aren't even allowed to feel, you know you're in trouble.
It is s𝓀trongly suggested that the intensity of said lessons force Draco to close himself off emotionally so that he may eventually slay Dumbledore. Unfortunately 𝔉for Draco, the weight is too much for him and, while he’s able to put up a front for the Death Eaters, he if forced to unload on Myrtle.
19 Draco ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚIs Bad At Duelling As A Kid
You can tell how much of an unreliable narrator Harry is actually is based off just how sincerely he takes Draco’s duelling skills at face value when the sub-text implies Draco isn’t all that impressive. Despite being considered a competent duellist, Draco is consistently defeated in duels throughout the series. Pretty much every major duel Draco participates in during the course of his Hogwarts career ends with him either beaten or humiliated. He’s still considered a compe🧸tent duellist in-universe, but this is more because of who he grows into.
18 ꧃ But Fantastic As An Adult 🌠
In the decades following his time at Hogwarts, Draco really improved his duelling abilities. As an adult, Draco is able to duel Harry, who is considered to be the greatest duel🍒list alive at the time of The Play Who Shall Not Be Named, to a straight draw. Draco, who struggled to duel as a child, is able to push back the greatest wizard alive. Think about that for just a second. It’s almost inexplicable in a sense, but perhaps Draco just thrives when he’s no longer living in the shadow of his parents.
17 ꦉ Draco Is Not Wholly Bad
Which actually does spe💝ak volumes to who Draco is as a person in the context of the Wizard World. When it comes down to it, he’s not necessarily a bad man. He certainly acts spoiled and bratty while also actively helping Voldemort attack Hogwarts, but, and this is a big but, he doesn’t want to be doing any of this. The fact of the matter is, Draco would not act the way he does in the series if he had any sort of agency. Of all the major characters in the books, Draco is the only one who exclusively acts on the wills of others, and it’s all because of one key reason.
16 Drac𝔍o Is A Coward
Draco Malfoy is a coward. Draco Malfoy does not know how to say “no.” Drac♌o Malfoy does not know how to stand up for himself or assert himself. Draco was perfectly comfortable letting himself get roped into a plot to assassinate his Headmaster- who he actually did seem to like- all because of his fear of saying no. In Draco’s defense, saying𓆏 “no” to Voldemort is quite a bad idea, but it does speak volumes to who Draco is as a character. He is a scared boy who doesn’t have the courage to do what he knows is right.