In recent months, Slytherin has taken over TikTok with many Draco Malfoy-related videos and now this phenomenon even has its own hashtag - "Dracotok." Even Tom Felton, the actor who played Draco, made a reaction video that, as of this point, has gathered nearly 19 million views.
In Harry Potter's world, Draco represents a classic antagonist. However, he is far more complicated than that. He brings a lot of trouble to everyone's favorite trinity, but he also has a fair share of moments that prove he is a good guy. His early upbringing and uneasy circumstances just damaged him.
Not A Villain: Draco Warns Hermione
In The Goblet of Fire, Draco warns Hermione that she is in danger, but he does it in his usual sarcastic manner. This was a big controversy among Harry Potter fans because some audiences interpreted this scene as Draco bullying Hermione again, but he also is warning her about a very real danger.
Readers shouldn't forget that Draco hurled the word "Mudblood" around only the previous year, in the middle of attacks on his fellow students. However, Malfoy's parents are part of the attack he's warning about in this scene. This may be the first time that Malfoy has stood up to his parents' violent hate in any way.
Hero: He Pretended Not To Recognize Harry
In Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows (Part 1), there is a moment when Harry is captured at Malfoy Manor with a spell that distorted his face. Bellatrix pressured Draco to decide if the captured boy is Harry.
His eyes show he recognizes Harry, but he decides not to confirm that they have indeed captured Potter. Instead, he chooses to save the hero. It could be a sign that Draco never wished Harry actual harm.
Not A Villain: He Tried To Be Friends With Harry
In the first book, when Draco and Harry meet at Hogwarts, Draco wants to be Harry's friend. However, Harry has an awful first impression of Draco and rejects the young Slytherin-to-be.
Draco was vulnerable, and this rejection made him hate Harry. He was stung by Harry's dismissal because he is, although privileged, very lonely. He is under constant pressure from his parents to be the best and befriend the "strongest/most popular/pure-blooded" wizards.
Hero: Draco's Destiny
The core of Draco's wand consists of Unicorn hair, and the series' most-celebrated wand-maker, Ollivander, said, "Unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands."
Knowing that every wizard's wand chooses its owner for a reason, there's a good argument that J.K. Rowling never intended Draco Malfoy to be evil. The core of his magic wand, much like his spirit, is tough to turn to the dark side.
Not A Villain: His Relationship With Moaning Myrtle
During his most challenging time, when he was pressured by Death Eaters to prove his loyalty to Lord Voldemort, Draco connected with Myrtle, the ghost who haunts a girl's restroom. He spent a lot of time in Slytherin's bathroom crying and suffering from being forced to perform acts he wouldn't otherwise do.
Myrtle later confirmed that she really connected with Draco. He shared his suffering with her, a lonely boy dominated by true villains. This relationship opens up Draco's sensitive side. It shows that Draco struggles with his demons. He was happy enough to claim to be Slytherin's heir, but he gets no satisfaction from doing real harm.
Hero: He Wouldn't Kill Dumbledore
Draco's attempts to kill Dumbledore were so weak that Dumbledore himself wondered if the person behind them was really trying to kill him. When Draco confronted Dumbledore in order to fulfill Voldemort's will and murder the heaster, he took a very long time.
He even lowered his wand, crying and struggling to cast a spell. In the end, with his real character.
Not A Villain: Draco Strong Bond With His Wife
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child shows Draco evolves into a good father and a caring husband. He drops the quest to live up to his family's legacy and forms meaningful bonds with wizards who have no connections to the Dark Arts.
He marries Astoria Greengrass, who similarly converts from pure-blood ideals to more tolerant life views. She also does not want to raise their son Scorpius to believe that Muggles are worse than pure-bloods. Even if his wife provides a lot of the impetus for these changes, the changes themselves also demonstrate Draco's essential decency.
Hero: Protects His Family
Throughout the whole series, Draco is under constant pressure to live up to his last name and his heritage. Ironically, Voldemort manipulates the Malfoy family because of Lucious Malfoy's past mistakes as a Death Eater. Draco tries to save the lives of his parents by agreeing to kill Dumbledore.
Stepping up to do the wrong thing was a kind of heroism, too. He was putting his life on the line in place of his parents' lives, even though he must have known he'd never be able to kill Dumbledore.
Not A Villain: Lucius Pushed Draco Into Rivalry With Harry
Throughout the series, Draco hates Harry and tries to belittle him at every opportunity. However, Draco's father, Lucius, facilitates much of their rivalry. He frequently compares the two and pushes Draco to be better than Harry at everything.
One of the central moments that shows this is Lucius' response to Harry becoming the youngest Seeker in the history of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Lucius buys the whole Slytherin team new brooms in response, bribing the team to accept Draco as their new Seeker.
Hero: He Helps Harry Save His Son
Despite their complicated past, Draco helps Harry save his relationship with his son, Albus. He advises Harry to forgive and accept Albus, otherwise, the two will suffer because of their lost connection. This further illustrates Draco's human and sensitive side.
It shows that Draco reflects on his relationship with his father and tries not to repeat their mistakes, helping Harry's relationship with Albus along the way.
