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Witch Weekly
27th September 2002 | Issue No. 62,442
Draco Malfoy, in his own terms
From former Death Eater to the most eligible bachelor in the United Kingdom, the enigmatic Lord Malfoy shows us his more human (and romantic) side in this exclusive interview.
Text: Lacey Sherman | Photo: Moonluart
Few men are capable of arousing simultaneous unease and fascination.
Draco Malfoy is one of those rare cases.
Elegant and polished, he welcomed us last Friday, 20th September, for an exclusive audience at Malfoy Manor. Dressed in a classic black suit with an impeccable fit, he invited us in with a discreet smile and a very pleasant low voice. Being a perfect gentleman and a very attentive host, he took us on a tour of the property before the interview, chatting with us as he showed us the family's collection of historical art pieces.
During this interaction, I gathered my initial insights about our subject of study.
Austere, Draco Malfoy is what we might define as a man of few, but powerful words. His inscrutable expression never reveals the full intensity of his emotions and, at first, his sober and aristocratic demeanour seems intimidating.
However, this impression soon gives way to charm in the face of his impeccable manners and grace, and later, during our conversation, the openness of his responses brought surprising revelations.
As a Muggle-born reporter, I must admit I didn't expect such cordiality and goodwill, let alone his positive answer to my interview request. Traditionally, the Malfoy family has always been a keen defender of blood purity, not associating with Muggle-borns and their sympathizers. Furthermore, in general, Draco Malfoy stays away from the public eye, rarely speaking to the press.
His last official pronouncement was in April 2001, during the funeral of his father, Lucius Malfoy, who died from undisclosed causes. On the occasion, he declared that, although his father had "committed terrible acts against the wizarding community”, he always would “respect his memory and try to repair his legacy”.
No one ever knew for sure what terrible acts the young man was referring to, nor what his real intentions were, since he spoke so little about them.
However, his efforts are visible. Since his father’s passing, the new Lord Malfoy has dedicated himself considerably to philanthropy. His most well-known recent act was the generous donation to SPEW (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare), led by one of the UK's most famous Muggle-born witches, Hermione Granger.
Still, his association with Muggle-borns on a personal and intimate level could, until then, be considered almost nonexistent.
This word could also be applied to his love life. Owner of an immense fortune, Draco Malfoy has many suitors—especially within the Sacred Twenty-Eight—but he rarely appears in the company of women. His most notable relationship was with Astoria Nott (née Greengrass), but the courtship was short-lived and ended publicly in early 2000, with both claiming they were better off as friends. Months later, he was the best man at her wedding to Theodore Nott.
From then on, there were hardly any occasions when Mr. Malfoy was seen with another witch, and in the final year, there were none.
It is noticeable, therefore, that Draco Malfoy likes to preserve his privacy, and that his position on blood purity is still, at the very least, unclear. Or so I thought.
In any case, It was with great surprise that I received his letter inviting us not only to interview him in person, but also to do so at the ancestral Malfoy Manor.
The mansion’s interior was also another pleasant surprise. The house no longer possesses the gloomy atmosphere illustrated in the photographs of the dossier "The Horrors of Malfoy Manor" published in the Daily Prophet after the end of the Second Wizarding War (1995-1998). Completely renovated, the Malfoy residence, once the headquarters of the Death Eaters and the scene of kidnappings, torture, and murders, now boasts a much less oppressive decor.
In the grand entrance hall, newly constructed skylights illuminate the interior throughout the day. The old dark wood furniture has been replaced with more modern pieces, and the decor, while still predominantly green, displays details in crimson and gold. The infamous drawing room where Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger were held captive (and where the Golden Girl was cruelly tortured by Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange) has been completely demolished. In its place, an inner courtyard with a garden has been created.
It was there that, served with Earl Grey and fine biscuits, we conducted our interview. And I must confess, dear readers, that I was not prepared for everything I was about to hear.
[Lacey Sherman] Your willingness to grant this interview was quite unexpected, Mr. Malfoy. Is there any particular reason for finally speaking to the press?
[Draco Malfoy] Yes, absolutely. To begin with, I’m tired of seeing my story told through biased narratives.
But why only now, if these narratives bother you so much?
I’ve been reflecting on this for a while. My seclusion has allowed me to put many convictions into perspective, but it has also created some wild speculations about who I am and what my real intentions are. I’ve decided that from now on my story will be told on my own terms.
That’s a very bold statement. Do you think it’s possible to control the media?
Obviously not. And at the end of the day, people will always believe in what’s more convenient to them. But I realised I need to make my stance very clear.
Your stance on…?
On a sensitive issue for the wizarding community.
We’ll get to that, but first, let me clear up a doubt. Previously you said “to begin with”. Is there any other reason for speaking now, besides this resumption of the narrative?
I see you’re perceptive, Miss Sherman. Well then. Yes, there is another reason.
And what reason would that be?
I want to send a message.
A message for the general public or for someone specific?
Someone very specific.
Oh, interesting... Is it someone the public knows?
I find it hard to believe that anyone wouldn't know her.
So it's a woman?
Yes.
But you won’t reveal her name to us, am I right?
What would be the fun in that? I'd rather let all of you speculate for a while.
Isn't it contradictory to encourage speculations about you and a mysterious woman after declaring you're fed up with them?
I’m fed up with some of them. Others can be quite interesting. A man needs to have some mystery, after all.
Now I’m thinking you won’t be entirely honest as you promised in your letter. Should I have brought a dose of Veritaserum and put a few drops in your tea?
That would be extremely unethical. And also unnecessary. I’m committed to being totally transparent, but only about what I want.
Well then. You said you want to take a stance on a “sensitive issue for the wizarding community”. What issue would that be?
The end of the exclusive marriage culture among pure-blood wizarding families.
Surely it’s a very controversial topic. Do you support the marriage between wizards of different blood status, then?
Absolutely.
But do you mean you would marry a witch who wasn’t pure-blood?
Exactly.
Is a choking revelation, considering you’re descended from two extremely traditional wizarding bloodlines. What caused such a change of heart?
Let’s say I learned the worst way possible. My time as a Death Eater was… quite traumatic, to say the least. After seeing with my own eyes, in my own house, the horrors caused by the blood purity ideology, I realised how much it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t matter where your magic came from, it matters what you do with it. And doing what is right does not require any totally wizard family history.
These are truly powerful words, Mr. Malfoy. I hadn’t imagined that period had been so traumatic to you. Would you like to talk more about it?
I think now is finally the time to speak. Everybody thinks I received the dark mark willingly, but it wasn’t really like that. I did what I did to protect my family from Tom Riddle’s wrath. I’m not saying this exempts me from guilt for the acts I committed as a Death Eater, but today I see that period differently.
And how do you see it?
Today I see that I was under extreme pressure and was coerced into taking on a mission I didn’t truly want and wasn't capable of executing. A mission designed for me to fail. No 16-year-old boy should bear the responsibility of saving his entire family from death.
So you have forgiven yourself for your role in the Death Eater invasion of Hogwarts in 1997?
Never. As I said, I do not exempt myself from guilt. However, I’ve learned to look at myself with a little more compassion.
Compassion is a noble sentiment, especially when it comes to feeling it about yourself. Do you believe the wizarding world feels the same way about you?
Not in the slightest. But I don’t care about what they feel for me. What I want is for people to understand the truth is more complex than they think. I’m tired of them speaking for me.
That’s totally understandable. Now, going back to your previous declaration about mixed marriages. I wonder what Narcissa Black Malfoy thinks about this. Does she agree with your vision?
She doesn’t agree completely, but she’s becoming more tolerant. Recently she had visited her sister, Andromeda Tonks, and had met her great-nephew, Ted Lupin. She’d become quite fond of the boy.
But do you think she would approve of a Half-blood daughter-in-law, for example? Or a Muggle-born?
My mother loves me more than anything, of that I know. I’m certain that, regardless of my future wife’s blood status, she will understand why I love her and will support any decision that makes me happy.
You seem quite confident when you mention your marriage and your future wife. Are you engaged and nobody is aware, by any chance?
I’m not engaged, yet. But if my message gets through, I hope to be, soon.
So, is that the message to the mysterious woman? That you support and would have a mixed marriage?
Exactly.
With her?
Who else would it be?
I suppose she’s not a pure-blood witch, then.
Not at all.
Hmm… It’s a pity for all the young witches of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
I’m certain they’ll find someone. I, however, already am permanently unavailable.
Well, I need a moment to recover, Mr. Malfoy. Not only I just found out you’re in a secret relationship, but also that you intend to marry this mysterious woman. How long have you been together?
It's been almost a year.
And who is she, after all?
I can’t reveal yet, but I can tell why I want to marry her.
You seem very eager for this, so, be my guest.
I know you’re eager to hear it too. Well then. She is the most talented, intelligent, sensitive and brave person I’ve ever met. I’m grateful for every second I can spend by her side. I’m certain she’s the love of my life.
At only 22 years old, aren't you a little too young to be so sure about who the love of your life is?
Love isn’t something that can be measured in terms of certainty versus age. I just know it is her. Have you ever met someone who challenged all your convictions? Someone who expected more from you, who encouraged you to be better just so you had the remotest chance of deserving her? That’s what I’m talking about.
I admit that I haven’t, Mr. Malfoy. But I must say that your feelings are… very intense. How could you keep this relationship a secret for so long?
I wanted to protect her. I was afraid that being associated with me could damage her career in some way. I would never do anything that could hurt her, so I thought it was better to keep our privacy.
But now you’re tired of hiding?
Precisely.
And what about her? Did she want to hide your relationship?
At first, she was afraid of what people would think. We didn't have the best of starts, so to speak. I was a terrible child to her at Hogwarts. Then, she was afraid I wouldn’t want to take the next step because of her blood status. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I would do anything for her, even end generations of tradition from my ancestors.
This is terribly romantic, Mr. Malfoy. I imagine she will be delighted by your declarations in this interview.
I know that, secretly, she will be, indeed. But first she is going to give me a lecture for doing something so pretentious and abrupt. She’s a very practical person, and likes to plan everything.
Let’s see, then we’re talking about a woman who is: famous; most likely Muggle-born; quite career-focused; a former rivalry of yours at school; practical and a planner; and a bit controlling. I think I have a guess, Mr. Malfoy.
I bet you do. But don't spoil the surprise yet. I might invite you to cover our wedding.
I’m eager for it. I imagine you even have the location in mind.
Yes. Right here at Malfoy Manor, in the inner courtyard. Do you like the new decor?
It's impeccably tasteful, Mr. Malfoy. I never thought green would go so well with red and gold, but the combination is lovely.
Thank you. I wanted a cozy ambiance, you know? For when she moves in.
I see. I just hope she’s not too jealous. Yesterday you were seen at the Leaky Cauldron, leaving Hermione Granger’s birthday party. What would she think of that?
Well, yes, she’s jealous. But I’m not worried about that, neither is she. She knows that, with Miss Granger, my relationship is just professional.
And this “professional relationship” began when you donated one hundred thousand galleons to SPEW about a year ago?
Exactly.
Curiously, almost at the same time where your secret relationship started.
Indeed, it was a period of great transformation for me.
I’m sure it was. You know, I suspect that Miss Granger also has a secret relationship. Yesterday morning, my correspondents at the Ministry of Magic reported that security was called in to control the entry of dozens of delivery people who kept arriving with flowers and books for her. Whoever it is that sent them, seems to be a hopeless romantic. What do you think of that?
Honestly, I think that’s the bare minimum any passionate man should do for the woman he loves. And whoever he is, he loves her deeply.
Your future wife is a lucky woman, Mr. Malfoy. Now I’m rooting for your message to be received as you wish.
It's all I want. I’m tired of hiding what I feel for her and who I am.
Our readers will swoon at such passion! What final message would you like to leave for them?
At Hogwarts, I was a boy who had made all the wrong choices. But I received compassion. That was the beginning of a long process of change that took years. Now, as a man, I’ve received love. From her. And that has changed me profoundly. For me, now, that’s where the real magic lies: in the love that transforms us irreversibly.
Witch Weekly
4th October 2002 | Issue No. 62,443
Secrets of a forbidden love: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, engaged!
Discover everything about the most unexpected relationship in the wizarding world in this exclusive interview with the lovebirds, granted exclusively to Witch Weekly.
Text: Lacey Sherman | Photos: Moonluart