Spoiler warning! There are some mild spoilers ahead – turn back now if you’re not familiar with the books…
The Malfoys
This ancient wizarding family is so old that the first Malfoy arrived in Britain with William the Conqueror! With the name Malfoy meaning ‘bad faith’ in old French, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that they were known for being a slippery bunch – courting power and wealth.
Speaking of which, the land in Wiltshire, where Malfoy Manor (a very grand home indeed) was built, was given to Armand by the King himself – no doubt in thanks for some rather dubious dealings. It has remained in the Malfoy family for generations.
Although known for being believers in pure-blood supremacy (and the Malfoys really do believe in their superiority), historically, this wasn’t the full picture. They were willing to associate with certain Muggles – as long as they were rich, influential and they got something from them.
Once anti-Muggle sentiment grew in the wizarding world (and the Statute of Secrecy came into play), their knack for self-preservation kicked in and they denied ever being associated with them at all.
A family with great ambition and a talent for cunning, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that they have strong ties to Slytherin house.
Notable Malfoy family members
Draco Malfoy
Probably the first Malfoy that springs to mind, Draco was the only child of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy and grew up believing that as a pure-blood, wizard and member of the Malfoy family, he was truly special. A Slytherin in the same year as Harry Potter, he was furious to not be given the same royal treatment as the Boy Who Lived. Prefect, Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team, Inquisitorial Squad member, and school bully – he was a complex character. Privileged and often unpleasant but in for a rude awakening.
Lucius Malfoy
The father that Draco idolised, previous Hogwarts school governor and wizard known for being a former Death Eater... Lucius was a Malfoy through and through. With family wealth and influential connections, he had a lot of sway in the wizarding world – though he preferred to be the power behind the throne rather than the one on it. That way, he could get what he wanted but could also deny any responsibility or involvement if things went awry.
Narcissa Malfoy
A pure-blood with notable lineage and strong ties to Slytherin house, it’s not surprising that Narcissa ended up marrying someone like Lucius Malfoy. As a member of the Black family, she was from a long line of Dark witches and wizards (with a few exceptions like her sister, Andromeda). Narcissa was prejudiced and had an inflated sense of superiority – though it was never confirmed that she was a Death Eater (unlike her other sister, Bellatrix). The one thing she valued above all, was the love she had for her son, Draco.
Scorpius Malfoy
The son of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass, Scorpius was a different kind of Malfoy entirely. Best friends with a Potter of all people, his ambitions were geared more towards how much he could learn rather than how many people he could influence. A kind bookworm with a sweet tooth, he was an example of what Slytherin could be.
Astoria Malfoy
After leaving Hogwarts, Astoria Greengrass married Draco Malfoy. Despite coming from one of the families considered part of the ‘Sacred Twenty-Eight’ her in-laws were rather disappointed with their daughter-in-law. This was largely thanks to her abandoning the worldview held by many pure-blood families and embracing a more accepting one.
Armand Malfoy
As we mentioned earlier, Armand was the Malfoy who was part of the invading Norman army and given land (seized from local landowners) as thanks for his shady services. He perfectly encapsulated how the Malfoy family prized status, wealth and proximity to power – even more than pure-blood ideals.
Nicholas Malfoy
When the Black Death struck, it gave Nicholas Malfoy the opportunity to dispatch of any of his particularly irritable Muggle tenants. As seems to be the way with this family, he got away with it and escaped censure by the Wizards’ Council.
Septimus Malfoy
This was a wizard with such great influence at the Ministry of Magic in the late eighteenth century, that people started to believe that the actual Minister for Magic, Unctuous Osbert, wasn’t in charge at all…
Abraxas Malfoy
Father of Lucius and grandfather to Draco, this was yet another wily and influential Malfoy who controlled things from the shadows. He was thought to be part of a sneaky plot to prematurely oust the first Muggle-born Minister for Magic, Nobby Leach, in 1968. Of course, nothing was ever proven.
The first Lucius Malfoy
Before the Statute of Secrecy came into being, one Malfoy had royal ambitions. The first Lucius Malfoy was said to want to marry Queen Elizabeth I. When she spurned him, he jinxed her and that was (supposedly) why she remained opposed to marriage for the rest of her life.
