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Draco Malfoy (born 5 June 1980) is an antagonist in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books and Harry Potter's principal rival at school. The rivalry is between the two is such that Harry has at times perceived Draco to be his archnemesis. Draco is described as a pale-faced boy with white-blond hair, pointed features, and cold grey eyes. Harry describes him as a spoiled, arrogant, and selfish person.

Malfoy's intense rivalry with Harry is mostly a product of envy, given the latter's fame and phenomenal successes at Hogwarts. Additionally, Malfoy taunts Ron Weasley's family for their poor financial situation and treats Hermione Granger with utter disdain for being Muggle-born, calling her by the derogatory term Mudblood.

Draco Malfoy is played by Tom Felton in the first four Harry Potter films.

"Think my name's funny, do you?"

"Draco Malfoy" is an invented name by J. K. Rowling.

Draco is derived from the Latin meaning "Dragon" (Rowling's grasp of Latin is self-taught). It is also the name of a snakelike constellation, keeping with the traditions of the Black family that name their descendants after stars/constellations. Notably, "Draco" is the first lawgiver of Athens, who enforced a harsh legal code. The English adjective, draconian, meaning 'cruel', is inherited from that lawgiver. "Drac" translates to "devil" in Rome.

Malfoy is derived from Old French Mal Foi or Mal Foy, which means "Bad Faith".

While many adult wizards and witches in the series have invented names (Dumbledore, Nymphadora, Voldemort etc.), Draco Malfoy is one of two Hogwarts students who has such a name (the other is Luna Lovegood); even his followers have conventional names such as Vincent, Gregory, and Pansy. Both of the students' names are from Latin. Rowling enjoys the feeling that wizards would continue to use this dead language in their everyday life.

Malfoy in the books

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Draco first appears where his attitude strongly reminds Harry of Dudley Dursley, Harry's cousin. Their dislike for each other is sealed when Harry refused Draco's offer of friendship. They have been bitter enemies ever since.

Draco is a bully who is constantly accompanied by two obtuse Slytherins, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, who follow his every order. He is also constantly fawned over by Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl in his year.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Draco gains the position of Seeker in the Slytherin Quidditch team, mainly because of his father's generous donation of seven high-quality Nimbus 2001 brooms — enough to equip the entire team. However, he is also apparently proficient enough in this role that Slytherin's team is typically competing with Gryffindor for top ranking in the Hogwarts league. He is highly favoured by Severus Snape, the Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House. Because of this, Draco often gets away with behaviour that would land Harry, or any other student, in detention.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Malfoy tries his best to get the gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid fired.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Malfoy appears to be instrumental in the creation of "Support Cedric Diggory" badges for the Triwizard Tournament, as he is the first one to show them to Harry out of spite. He also makes a badge that constantly switches phrases that says, "Potter Stinks".

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Malfoy joins the Inquisitorial Squad and plays an important part in the exposure of the secret Dumbledore's Army, which Harry leads.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Draco plays a crucial role in Half-Blood Prince, when Lord Voldemort orders him to murder the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. Like Regulus Black, Draco is infatuated by the Dark Arts and eagerly takes on the task as a chance for glory, of which he seems to get very little. In an effort to prove himself, Draco works alone without the help of his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, or his favourite professor, Severus Snape. Under his aunt Bellatrix Lestrange's instruction, Draco has become quite proficient in Occlumency, a skill that Harry has never mastered.

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