Draco Malfoy might be the school yard antagonist of Harry Potter throughout the franchise and take a backseat to bigger threats, but Draco Malfoy quotes also stick with the audience. Draco (Tom Felton) is known for his one-liners aimed at Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends throughout the series of movies. He might not always have the wittiest lines, but his insults certainly get right to the point.
When the movies begin, Draco is a bully, used to getting his way around his peers. His family’s wealth and status have afforded him the comfort and luxury that makes him expect to be, if not liked, then feared, by his classmates. As the movies progress, however, it’s clear that Draco is trying to hold onto the Malfoy family’s status in an increasingly dangerous world. Even fun one-liners can’t save him when he’s being given tasks to complete by Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and he becomes a much more sympathetic character for Harry Potter fans.
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“You’ll Go The Same Way As Your Parents.”
Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
Not all the best Draco Malfoy quotes from Harry Potter were included in the movies. Draco wasn’t the main antagonist in the films and was more of a minor antagonist. His role was kept small, so each of his actions had a bigger meaning when they happened. However, fans who read the books know how bad Draco was. He was an evil person as a child who delivers this cruel and pointed remark to Harry when he realizes that the Boy Wizard isn’t interested in being his friend.
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While it was just a juvenile insult thrown at Harry, it had the taste of true cruelty behind it. Harry let Draco know they wouldn’t be friends, which was a threat to the Boy Wizard when Draco said that he would end up like his parents – which meant dead. As an insult, it was harsh, but bringing up Harry’s dead parents shows how little regard he has for anyone’s feelings and shows how terrible his parents had to be to raise a child to say something this spiteful and hurtful.
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“You Want To Steal My Glory!”
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
This specific scene in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is where the entire Draco Malfoy redemption scene starts. He is questioning his role in Voldemort’s plan to kill Dumbledore. He knows he is tasked with the deed, but he shows here how much it weighs on him. He questions wanting to do it, but the pull of the Dark Lord is too great, and he suddenly begins to see conspiracies all around him. Snape promises to protect Draco from this moment, and the Dark Lord’s influence causes Draco to see enemies everywhere.
This quote is directed at him thinking about Snape and the fact that he sees his ally, and the only person who can save him, as an enemy who just wants to cash in and “steal his glory” of the kill. It shows how much pressure Draco is under, but this is another line that was left out of the movie and was only in the books. This might have been a nice addition to the film since it showed his relationship with Snape and identified how they were more father-son-like than Draco was with his actual father.
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“She Was Dead Before You Could Wipe The Drool Off Your Chin”
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
There is a moment in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince where Draco Malfoy proves that he isn’t stupid and is just as aware of what is happening around him as anyone. This scene occurs on the Hogwarts Express when Harry Potter takes it upon himself to spy on Draco and his friends when he believes the students are now part of the Death Eaters. This happens after Harry sees Draco and Narcissa Malfoy meeting up with Death Eaters, including Fenrir Greyback. Harry sneaks into the Slytherin carriage wearing his Invisibility Cloak.
He is just as evil and vindictive as anyone Harry was facing at the time.
However, Draco shows he is a lot smarter than Harry. He pulls the curtains on the train with his magic and then blasts Harry, knocking him down with a petrified spell. He then delivers this harsh quote. He asks if Harry’s mother never taught him it was rude to eavesdrop and then throws out the insult that Harry’s mother died when he was a baby. Even as Draco gets a chance to find redemption in the final movie, he shows here that he is just as evil and vindictive as anyone Harry was facing at the time.
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“I Didn’t Know He Was Going To Come”
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
There are quite a few Draco Malfoy quotes that played out in the books but never made it to the movie. The films had limited time to tell the stories, so several things were left behind, including many Draco scenes. This specific quote is among them and happened when Draco and his friends had Harry dead-to-rights with their wands, and Harry asked why Draco didn’t tell Bellatrix that he was there in disguise.
It was a rare chance for Draco to show that he cares for his friends
The film played that part of the scene, but one line of questioning was omitted. Harry asked why he would want Fenrir Greyback around his friends, knowing how dangerous the Death Eater was. This was how Draco answered Harry, revealing that if he had known, he might have thought differently or kept his friends away from the situation. It was a rare chance for Draco to show that he cares for his friends and gave him a more caring side that could have played out greatly in the movie based on his later redemption.
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“He Should Snap His Wand In Half And Go Join Them.”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
One thing that makes the Malfoy family stand out in the Harry Potter franchise is that they are among the elite bigots in the Wizarding World. They hate anyone who is not a pure-blood wizard and hate all human Muggles, “halfbreeds,” and any other Wizard who are Muggle-Supporters. He shows this contempt when he mocks Hermione for not being pure blood, and in this quote, he mocks the Weasley family for their love and support for all things Muggle.
This scene is in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but this specific line is not in the movie and only exists in the book. He is condescending in the film and insults them all, but in the book, he goes this one step further and insinuates that the Weasleys should just give up their roles as Wizards and go live with the Muggles if they love them so much. It is a huge statement and plays into the later storyline, where the Malfoy family rejoins Voldemort and the Death Eaters as they attempt to take over again.
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“It’s True Then, What They’re Saying On The Train. Harry Potter Has Come To Hogwarts”
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter’s Hogwarts rival establishes himself as a memorable antagonist from the moment he’s introduced, and because of this, many of the best Draco Malfoy quotes come directly from 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. One of Draco Malfoy’s first lines in the Harry Potter franchise shows that, before they’ve even met, Draco has it in for Harry, and is determined that their time at Hogwarts together will be eventful whether they end up as friends or enemies.
It’s the first sign that Draco Malfoy is obsessed with Harry Potter. It’s not his best line in the franchise, but it’s an important one. It demonstrates that Draco Malfoy has heard the stories of Harry Potter, and that he fully intends to use his proximity to the Boy Who Lived in one way or another. He’s ready to understand whether Harry Potter could be an ally or an enemy with just this one line.
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“Potter!”
Various Harry Potter Media
Few characters in the Harry Potter movies have catchphrases, but some, such as Dobby the house-elf, have repeated lines that come close. However, if there was ever a line that became memorable through repetition enough to be a catchphrase, it’s Draco Malfoy saying “Potter!” — an always-hilarious moment thanks in no small part to Tom Felton’s delivery.
This particular Draco Malfoy quote has become the subject of many a meme.
When Draco Malfoy gets angry, he’s often ready to blame Harry Potter. Harry Potter might not be actively in Draco’s way at every turn, but Draco sure feels that way. That’s why the shout of “Potter!” is so easily recognizable by Harry Potter fans. In fact, this particular quote has become a big part of pop culture. This particular Draco Malfoy quote has become the subject of many a meme.
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“The Dementors Send Their Love, Potter.”
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
Given how snide, arrogant, and antagonistic he is, it’s little surprise that many of the best Draco Malfoy quotes come when he’s insulting the other characters — especially Harry. If there’s one thing that Draco Malfoy is good at, it’s figuring out the things that bother Harry Potter the most. That’s why so many of the most recognizable Draco Malfoy quotes come directly from moments when he’s trying to get under Harry’s skin.
Draco’s very good at embarrassing other people because of his own insecurities, and he shows this trait in full force when he taunts Harry’s (totally justifiable) aversion to the Dementors in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He knows that Harry is incredibly self-conscious about the Dementors causing him to faint in front of everyone. He’s also aware that Harry is actually terrified of the Dementors. This line, called to Harry, is one meant to get under his skin very quickly.
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“I Have To Kill You, Or He’s Gonna Kill Me!”
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
Not all of the memorable Draco Malfoy quotes are those that demonstrate why he’s so easy to hate for audiences. On the contrary, some of his best lines are those where he drops his bullyish facade and shows just how troubled he truly is. Throughout most of the Harry Potter franchise, Draco is used as comic relief, as little more than a school bully. It’s in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that Draco becomes a real threat though. He’s tasked with killing Dumbledore.
This is a key moment in the Harry Potter franchise because it’s one of the few times in which Draco gets more emotional lines instead of simply quippy one-liners or snarling insults.
This is a key moment in the Harry Potter franchise because it’s one of the few times in which Draco gets more emotional lines instead of simply quippy one-liners or snarling insults. It also leads to a heartbreaking Malfoy quote that emerges during his confrontation with Dumbledore. Dumbledore is teaching Draco right up until the end, and Draco, for all his boasting about being connected to Death Eaters, cannot kill Dumbledore. His crying while he tries to fight his former headmaster is heartbreaking.
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“Okay. Then I Get Fang!”
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
Draco Malfoy may talk himself up and brag about his connection to Death Eaters and dark wizards, but deep down he’s a coward, especially in the earlier books and movies like Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. While this definitely isn’t an admirable quality, it does lead to some hilarious Draco Malfoy quotes. When Draco has to serve detention in the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid decides that the group is going to split into two. Though Draco and Harry are paired up, Hagrid goes with Ron and Hermione, leading Draco to request that Hagrid’s dog Fang comes with him.
He’s very quick to make the assertion, certain that Fang will protect him from anything dangerous in the woods. That’s just one of the hints that Draco might actually be afraid of Fang. He is, after all, afraid of even the creatures that Hagrid takes on that aren’t usually dangerous. He might act like he’s better than the creatures that Hagrid loves, but he’s terrified of most of them.
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“You’d Better Hurry Up, They’ll Be Waiting For ‘The Chosen Captain’ — ‘The Boy Who Scored’ — Whatever They Call You These Days.”
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
One of Draco’s favorite pastimes is insulting Harry, so it makes perfect sense that many of the Draco Malfoy quotes come from his many inventive verbal jabs at the expense fo the Boy Who Lived. He hates that Harry is the center of so much attention, so it’s natural that some of his attempts at insults would be focused on that.
Having real responsibilities means that he doesn’t have the chance to focus on the things that occupied him before, like tormenting Harry.
Of course, these aren’t his best insults, but that’s because Draco spends so much of Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince focused on the task at hand — finding a way to get Death Eaters into Hogwarts and kill Dumbledore. He’s been a privileged child for most of his life himself, so having real responsibilities means that he doesn’t have the chance to focus on the things that occupied him before, like tormenting Harry.
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“Honestly, Goyle. If You Were Any Slower, You’d Be Going Backwards.”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Draco is beloved by many Harry Potter fans for his sharp tongue. Though his insults are cruel, they are also usually hilarious — and they’re not always aimed at Harry Potter. This Malfoy quote from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the perfect example of Draco delivering a line that is equal parts insulting and hysterical. Draco’s friends are typically subject to insults from Draco, and yet they remain loyal to Draco through it all.
While Draco having a pair of sidekicks in the movies remained constant, the actors portraying them did not. Josh Herdman (Goyle) is absent for part of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban due to an injury and Jamie Waylett (Goyle) is replaced completely in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 after a string of legal issues sidelined his career.
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“Famous Harry Potter. Can’t Even Go To A Book Shop Without Making The Front Page.”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry encounters his soon-to-be Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher at a book signing in Diagon Alley — the fame-hungry Gilderoy Lockhart. Malfoy is also in attendance, and takes chagrin to the fact that, even at an event with another celebrity, Harry once again steps into the spotlight. Draco despises the attention his rival receives and immediately confronts him, spouting this sour line.
This Draco Malfoy quote hints at the insecurities he tries so desperately to hide
This Draco Malfoy quote hints at the insecurities he tries so desperately to hide; he’s desperate for approval from those he admires, and seeing his hated enemy so effortlessly earn it must be equally embarrassing and insulting to him. Of course, Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) would eventually be revealed as a complete fraud.
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“Oh, Look, Potter, You Got Yourself A Girlfriend.”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
In the same scene in which Draco gets angry that Harry’s getting attention in Diagon Alley in Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, he also sees that Harry has caught Ginny Weasley’s attention. Ginny has harbored a crush on Harry since she met him, and she’s quick to defend him, even though she’s only 11 and everyone else around her is older and likely more powerful than she is.
Draco noticing Ginny is what makes Lucius Malfoy notice her, which is what leads to her interacting with Tom Riddle’s diary. This Draco Malfoy quote is really what kicks off everything for the Chamber of Secrets. It’s also, albeit unintentionally, quite prophetic of Malfoy to notice Harry catching Ginny’s eye, since the pair do eventually get married.
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“You’re Gonna Regret This! You And Your Bloody Chicken!”
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
One of Draco’s major flaws is his inability to take responsibility for his own actions. When he ignores Hagrid’s advice and approaches Buckbeak in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, he is injured. Even at that crucial moment, Draco is quick to pass the blame on to Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). A half-conscious Draco, clutching his arm in pain and being carried to the hospital wing by Hagrid, is still hurtling threats and insults.
This Malfoy quote is so funny both because of him referring to Buckbeak as a “bloody chicken”, and because of how terrified Malfoy clearly is.
This Malfoy quote is so funny both because of him referring to Buckbeak as a “bloody chicken”, and because of how terrified Malfoy clearly is. Of course, the Malfoy family are very well-connected, and they’re able to have Buckbeak sentenced to death shortly after. Fortunately, Harry and Hermione (Emma Watson) free him by using the time turner, but it remained an unfortunate circumstance brought about by Draco’s need to be right.
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“You’ll Soon Find Out That Some Wizarding Families Are Better Than Others, Potter.”
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
One of Draco’s most memorable scenes is his first introduction to Harry, and it provides the audience with one of the easiest recognized Draco Malfoy quotes. Though Draco’s role in the films was significantly cut down from the books, his presence is overwhelming in the first movie, and he serves as a secondary antagonist. But, before their relationship grows tense, Draco actually tries to form a bond with Harry.
When Draco and Harry first meet, Draco tries to make an ally of the Boy Who Lived. This isn’t surprising, as Draco loves power and recognition and would have loved to have Harry Potter as an influential ally. Of course, Harry sees right through Draco Malfoy and rejects his invitation, delivering Harry’s famous line, “I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks.”
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“Excuse Me, Professor, Perhaps I Heard You Wrong. I Thought You Said The Four Of Us.”
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
One of Draco’s greatest pleasures is getting the golden trio into trouble. When he discovers Harry, Ron, and Hermione wandering the halls late at night past curfew, he is thrilled to report them. Unfortunately, this plan backfires on Draco. When McGonagall (Maggie Smith) delivers her punishment — 50 points detracted from their respective houses for each of them and detention — she includes Draco, as well.
It’s a great moment of fairness from McGonagall, but an even funnier one at Draco’s expense.
Draco is, of course, gobsmacked that he’s also being punished, and his incredulity leads to an incredibly memorable Malfoy quote. Slytherin also losing points shocks him, wiping the smug look off of his face, and he politely questions her decision. McGonagall is quick to point out that, in order for Draco to have caught them, he also must have been breaking the rules. It’s a great moment of fairness from McGonagall, but an even funnier one at Draco’s expense.
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“I Don’t Think You’re Gonna Last 10 Minutes In This Tournament. He Disagrees. He Thinks You Won’t Last 5.”
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
Draco can’t resist the urge to antagonize Harry. When Harry is entered into the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, he is clearly petrified. This excites Draco, and he is quick to accost Harry, letting him know how little he and his friends think of Harry. Harry goes on to do very well in the Triwizard Tournament, but he probably would have been better off had Draco’s prediction come true.
Harry suffers greatly over the course of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, starting with no one believing that Harry didn’t put his name in the Goblet of Fire himself, but Malfoy likely feels even more spurned by the increased notoriety The Boy Who Lived inadvertently earned himself.
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“Another Minute Or Two And I Could Have Lost My Arm.”
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
In a brief sequence in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Malfoy can be seen showing his bandaged arm to a group of his classmates, boasting that he narrowly survived an attack from Buckbeak the Hippogriff. Eager for attention and approval, Malfoy plays up his injuries, making himself out to be some sort of grizzled war hero after he insults Buckbeak, and the animal lashes out at him.
It’s one of several great Malfoy quotes made all the better by Tom Felton’s delivery, as he plays the melodrama of this Draco moment perfectly.
Malfoy milking that injury is one of the most memorable comedic efforts in the movie. Not only was he not going to lose his arm, but he wasn’t even close to brave during the encounter, dropping to the ground and muttering as soon as he received the slightest scratch. It’s one of several great Malfoy quotes made all the better by Tom Felton’s delivery, as he plays the melodrama of this Draco moment perfectly.
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“My Father Will Hear About This!”
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
This is one of the best Draco Malfoy quotes because it’s such a classic Malfoy-Esque catchphrase — using his father’s reputation as a weapon. It reveals that the arrogant school bully is too afraid to fight his own battles, and he has to appeal to his father to get him what he wants. Lucius Malfoy might be an intimidating figure at points, but Draco’s constant weaponizing of his reputation is anything but.
Malfoy may talk a big game at school, but the truth is that he is a child who is desperate for his father’s approval. Upon closer inspection, Malfoy becomes a pitiable character, and his evil ways are likely more a result of nurture than nature. That becomes even more apparent as his character grows over the course of the eight Harry Potter movies.
