Draco Malfoy had a hidden crush on Hermione Granger during his years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a detail later confirmed by J.K. Rowling. However, this crush was never openly expressed due to the significant social and ideological barriers between them.
The Hidden Affection for Hermione Granger
Despite his often antagonistic behavior towards Hermione and her friends, J.K. Rowling revealed that Draco harbored unacknowledged feelings for her. These feelings remained a secret for several key reasons:
- House Rivalry: Hermione was a Gryffindor, the rival house to Draco's Slytherin, a house deeply ingrained with pure-blood ideology.
- Friendship with Harry Potter: Hermione was a close friend to Harry Potter, Draco's long-standing nemesis, making any overt display of affection unthinkable for Draco given his loyalty to his family and pure-blood beliefs.
- Muggle-Born Status: As a Muggle-born witch, Hermione's heritage directly conflicted with the pure-blood supremacy principles that Draco was raised to uphold. His family's strict views would have heavily condemned any relationship with someone of non-magical lineage.
Due to these profound conflicts, Draco's crush on Hermione was something he could not acknowledge or act upon, leading him to often express his internal turmoil through hostility and taunts.
Later Life and Marriage
After the events of the Second Wizarding War and the Battle of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy's romantic life took a different turn. He eventually found love and married Astoria Greengrass, a fellow pure-blood witch and the younger sister of Daphne Greengrass (a Slytherin student in Harry's year).
Their relationship evolved into a loving marriage, and they had one son, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy. Astoria played a significant role in helping Draco move past his prejudiced upbringing and embrace a more tolerant perspective, encouraging him to raise Scorpius to be a better person than he himself had been during his youth.
Here's a summary of Draco Malfoy's significant romantic interests:
| Relationship Type | Person | Period | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Crush | Hermione Granger | Hogwarts Years | Confirmed by J.K. Rowling; unexpressed due to social and ideological barriers. |
| Marriage | Astoria Greengrass | Post-Hogwarts | Fell in love, had a son (Scorpius); helped him overcome prejudices. |
