The Boy Who Was Misunderstood

        I know, I know, the title is very click-baity, but this is an topic I have to address. I love the Harry Potter series, and, among my favorite characters (other than the main three) is none other than Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black. This post is going to explain why this much-hated, much-abused character is also the least understood
        Draco Lucius Malfoy (born June 5th, 1980) was a born Slytherin. A proud pure-blood, Draco and Harry have been enemies ever since there first year. As the story progresses, we see how much of a "git" Draco is, with his deceitful, cunning personality. He is, in a manner of speaking, the anti-Harry (such as the way Pansy Parkinson is the anti-Hermione.) But under all these layers is, inevitably, a spoiled boy. 
        First and foremost, I find it necessary to remind that the entire Harry Potter saga (excluding The Cursed Child) is told from Harry's point of view, tainting our impressions of Draco. One might argue that point-of-view doesn't really matter here; it's pretty obvious Draco is a bully. 
        However, I will debate that Draco Malfoy, is, in fact, innocent of his crimes. In reality, the blame falls on his small-minded parents and relatives. Draco Malfoy, was in fact, brought up in a environment where he was encouraged to do things that are otherwise considered unacceptable. In a way, Draco Malfoy was abused (though I cannot say whether it be physically or mentally) into being who he is. Had Voldemort chosen Neville Longbottom as his equal, Harry would have grown up like Draco, though with a much more warmth to Muggle-borns and half-bloods. 
        Now, we go into the events of Draco (and Harry's) fifth, sixth, and seventh years. As more and more wizards and witches realize Voldemort's return, Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco all join his legion of followers, branding themselves (once again) proud Death Eaters. 
        At the end of the sixth book, we found out that Draco had been plotting to murder Albus Dumbledore. At their final confrontation, Draco confesses, "I need to kill you, or he'll kill me." This tearful sentence throws all of the previous accusations out of the window. It brings a whole new probability into the Draco-Death Eater thing. It shows that Draco, was, and is, a broken boy. He would have gladly rejected the offer of being a Death Eater, had he been given a choice. 
        Unfortunately, he, like countless others, were forced to do the Dark Lord's bidding. It is obvious that giving Draco a task even Voldemort himself was afraid to do was a way of punishing Draco's parents for their acts in the previous book. Draco Malfoy was a puppet in the hands of a puppeteer not afraid of consequences. 
        In the end, we, as readers, will never be able to fully understand Draco Malfoy. We will always immortalize him by his mistakes, by his wrongdoings. We readers will be blinded from his tears and sufferings.