DID TOM FELTON CHANGE PEOPLE’S OPINIONS OF DRACO MALFOY?

In the Harry Potter series, Draco Malfoy is a reviled, cowardly bully who shamelessly picks on our heroes for most of the time they are in each other’s presence.

Paradoxically to this, Draco seems to be many fans’ favourite character. He regularly appears in fan fiction, usually paired romantically with either Harry or Hermione (as Drarry and Dramione) and portrayed far more sympathetically than in the books or films.

So, the question is, why do people love Draco so much?

My best guess? They don’t. Who they actually love is actor Tom Felton, who played the part for a decade between 2001 and 2011.

A lot of the ‘shipping’ that goes on is based upon Felton’s image as the character. People believe he looks aesthetically good alongside Radcliffe or Watson as their characters.

Harry Potter author herself, JK Rowling, has also discussed this topic. On Pottermore, she wrote “Draco has all the glamour of the anti-hero; girls are very apt to romanticize such people. All of this left me in the unenviable position of pouring cold common sense on ardent readers’ daydreams as I told them, rather severely, that Draco was not concealing a heart of gold under all that sneering and prejudice and that no, he and Harry were not destined to end up best friends.”

Tom Felton even addressed the fan fervour behind Draco in a Tweet, saying [I’m] “not too sure Draco would make a good boyfriend. Ron however?” while apologising to Rowling for people liking her slimy teenage villain.