Earlier this month, we learned that Pottermore would be releasing a series of special surprise content as part of a holiday treat from author J.K. Rowling and the wizarding world of Harry Potter. When the announcement was made, there was talk of an essay from the writer about “the sneaky Slytherin Draco Malfoy”. Well, the day is finally here as Rowling’s thoughts on the fan favorite antagonist can be unlocked on the interactive site right now.
In the Avada Kedavra section of ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ in Pottermore, solving the riddle grants you access to some brand new information about the snotty, elitist wizard that was played by Tom Felton in the ‘Harry Potter’ film franchise, specifically about his life after Hogwarts. Though we got a glimpse of Draco’s existence in the epilogue of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,’ Rowling expands on a few facts about Mr. Malfoy that range from his interests in alchemy, the woman that he came to marry, and his parents’ thoughts on their son’s choice for a wife. Here’s a hint: They’re not too happy about it. Check out a few excerpts from the Pottermore essay that detail Draco Malfoy’s life after his run-in with The Boy Who Lived and He Who Must Not Be Named:
“Draco married the younger sister of a fellow Slytherin. Astoria Greengrass, who had gone through a similar (though less violent and frightening) conversion from pure-blood ideals to a more tolerant life view, was felt by Narcissa and Lucius to be something of a disappointment as a daughter-in-law. They had had high hopes of a girl whose family featured on the ‘Sacred Twenty-Eight’, but as Astoria refused to raise their grandson Scorpius in the belief that Muggles were scum, family gatherings were often fraught with tension.
I imagine that Draco grew up to lead a modified version of his father’s existence; independently wealthy, without any need to work, Draco inhabits Malfoy Manor with his wife and son. I see his hobbies further confirmation of his dual nature. The collection of Dark artefacts harks back to family history, even though he keeps them in glass cases and does not use them. However, his strange interest in alchemical manuscripts, from which he never attempts to make a Philsopher’s Stone, hints at a wish for something other than wealth, perhaps even the wish to be a better man. I have high hopes that he will raise Scorpius to be a much kinder and more tolerant Malfoy than he was in his own youth.”
The rest of the essay goes into Draco’s entire time at Hogwarts, including his mindset from the time that he met Harry to Voldemort’s siege of the school. It’s interesting to see how, as Rowling puts it, went from the archetypal bully with dubious morality to a more tolerant person that hopes his son won’t turn out like him. However, my favorite part of the whole thing is when the writer comments on Draco’s massive collection of adoring fans, who were probably not happy to hear that “Draco was not concealing a heart of gold under all that sneering and prejudice”.
Fans of ‘Harry Potter’, especially ones with an admiration for Draco Malfoy, should definitely take the time to log into Pottermore to read the recent essay on Harry’s childhood nemesis. It’s definitely worth the read to see the events that we’ve come to know and love from another perspective. Afterwards, head to the comment section and let us know what you thought of it. (Or else Draco’s father will hear about this!) You could also just share your Slytherin pride, which is always welcome in my articles right here at ScienceFiction.com.
