InsaneJournal

Most of the people who knew Draco Malfoy during his younger years before the war would remember him as a loud, obnoxious, spoiled brat with a huge ego and the absolutely ridiculous belief that his name and his blood made royalty out of him, an idea he prescribed to as if it were a religion. During the war, those who fought along side of him would recall Draco as a quiet, fearful, and cowardly young man who couldn't quite seem to do anything right. Even if his father had been an impressive Death Eater during the first war, Draco, in comparison, was much more of an embarrasement. All of them were right nearly one hundred percent of the time when it came to Draco Malfoy's tendencies and habits. He is loud and obnoxious, he does think the world revolves around him, and given the chance of fight or flight he will most definitely choose flight if he thinks it will allow him the opportunity to live longer. One could argue the only reason he even managed to make it through the war was by the protection of his family and family's few remaining friends. Although, when pressed and under the proper threats, Draco has been known to achieve amazing goals (such as letting the Death Eaters into Hogwarts).

Even though the war has ended, Draco is sure he's the only one that's having a difficult time moving on. Sleep alludes him constantly, so much that he often needs to rely on sleeping potions to get some shut eye. Sadly, no matter which avenue he attempts, when Draco finally does manage to catch a few hours it is plagued with nightmares, not just recounts of actual war time events but often strange, twisted, and horrific terrors. Besides his restlessness, Draco is withdrawn nearly to the point of being misanthropic. Even before the war, he wasn't a very big fan of displaying emotion, something he learned growing up and from time spent around other Death Eaters. Unless they are feelings of anger, jealousy, or the need for revenge, which he is particularly prone to, Draco can be rather closed off emotionally. Now, he is even more antisocial, refusing to make anything more than acquaintances out of the people he meets. His self-imposed isolation extends even into his sex life and he hasn't been with another person since very early on in the war's introduction. He finds it extremely difficult to relax in environments where he is unfamiliar with the surroundings. Sleep is next to impossible unless he feels completely safe.

Despite the horrors of war not all of Draco's former personality has been completely eradicated. He still thinks the world of himself, although the fact that he finds himself to be the pinnacle of exactly what a man should be as far as breeding, wealth, taste, and looks are concerned is little solace to him now. He does, however, still enjoy pushing people's buttons and bragging as long as neither of these things have to bring up those parts of his past which he finds to be uncomfortable. As odd as it sounds, Draco is at his most relaxed when in confrontation and will often perpetuate discord just so he can argue or fight even if he often tends to over react when cornered.

Growing up as the only son to a pair of wealthy, elite Purebloods was something akin to living in a Wonderland. Draco was never let to want for anything and was certainly provided with everything he could ever need. As a child he was doted on by his mother and spoiled by his father as the bright future legacy for the Malfoy family in the next generation. From a very early age, it was impressed upon Draco just how important Pureblood families were, how vital it was to keep wizarding blood pure, and how much better a Pureblood wizard was compared to those who came from Muggle parents and especially Muggles themselves. He watched his father entertain other wealthy, powerful Pureblooded men and how greatly he was admired, how influential and dominant his father could be with his peers and idolized him for it. His mother, in all her grace and infinite beauty, became the epitome of a refined Pureblood lady to her son. In his eyes, like parents often are in the eyes of their children, his mother and father were perfect and he strove to please them in every way.

When the time came for school to start, Draco was sent off to Hogwarts, a place that would ultimately not only change his life but also pop that Wonderland bubble forever. It was the place where he met Harry Potter, a life-long enemy, it would be where he discovered sex and lust and the joys of sneaking off into a broom cupboard between classes. It was where he would be forced to remain and watch, helpless, as the Dark Lord was reborn, as Voldemort enlisted his father's help again and as Lucius was ultimately captured by Ministry officials and imprisoned in Azkaban Fortress rending his perfect family asunder. It was the place where he would commit his first crime against Wizarding public by smuggling the Death Eaters in to wage war on his peers and to destroy Albus Dumbledore, a man he both loathed and accredited his timely salvation to.

By the time Severus Snape dragged him trembling and exhausted from Hogwarts Castle, Draco knew he was in deep, maybe even too deep. Lord Voldemort had him on a very short leash. With Lucius in Azkaban and Narcissa under the threat of death, Draco was easily terrified into a life of servitude to the Dark Lord. That wasn't to say Draco didn't want the Mark, in fact, in the beginning he was proud to have it, boastful even that he should be Marked at such a young age. Given the size of his ego, Draco was sure he'd be able to handle anything his Lord threw at him and would become an even bigger success than any of his peers. Once he was actually on the field, however, it became obvious just how desperately he did need help. For years he'd talked the talk but when the time came to prove himself, Draco ultimately proved only that he didn't have it in him to back up all of his words.

The war was a terrible, ghastly affair for Draco and not at all the romanticized version he'd learned about as a child, the type he'd always envisioned where he and his fellow Purebloods were fighting not only for a noble cause but for wealth, fame, and respect. In reality, the war was bloody, torturous, gruesome, and agonizing. He was forced to see and do things to other human beings, even women and children, that he never in his wildest imagination thought possible. There wasn't any escape route for him, however, and instead he was forced to cower with his family, try to avoid the Dark Lord's anger and wrath, and just survive what had turned out to be more of a hell than he had ever imagined.

The war ended for him in an amazing conclusion, his life saved by the boy he always loathed and despised during school. Twice. After everything was said and done, Draco was just glad he had survived along with both of his parents huddled together there in the Great Hall. Once everything had settled Draco found himself in odds with the world. His purist beliefs were unpopular and dangerous in ways they had never been before. Even though he was aware that his parents both loved and would do their best to support them, he couldn't quite face them without being forced to live again through everything that had happened.

To avoid prison time for their part in the war, the Malfoy family was forced to pay amazing reparations to the Wizarding world. Although these fines took a large portion out of the Malfoy family fortune, the old Pureblood line managed to make it out of the fire with a still comfortable albeit lower standard of living.

A few months later, when everyone seemed to have picked up the pieces and moved on with their lives, Draco did his best to do the same. He moved out of his parents house and into a house of his own. With no real training for real world experience or for a career outside of murdering and inspiring fear and terror, Draco relied on his family's wealth to take care of him as he struggled to find a new existence for himself. Even he realized he wasn't making any real progress for moving on and has thus began to search for other avenues of healing.

Just like the Weasley's stand out for their freckles and red hair, it's pretty easy to pick a Malfoy out of a crowd and Draco is no exception. His hair is pale blond, his features angular and narrow and his eyes a cool gray. Most of the ethereal qualities of Draco's appearance that made him stand out so much during his younger years have faded, leaving him wasted from years of living under Voldemort's thumb and living through the aftermath of the war. He has a perpetual shadow in his eyes either from lack of sleep or haunted memories of the things he'd witnessed and done as a Death Eater. Despite everything he still considers himself attractive but hates to be told he's pretty. He dresses nicely, especially whenever he's in public. His pride and family name may have been taken down a few notches but he still seems to be of the opinion that he's somehow royalty and dresses accordingly.

Draco already has the reputation for being an egotistical, selfish, short-tempered git and because he's very easily recognized many people often rely on this reputation when approaching or being approached by him for the first time. He may seem stand-offish and often avoids socializing with people he didn't socialize with school or during the war. He often spends time to himself and will avoid meeting new people. If he must make a new acquaintance, Draco tends to be defensive and is as much of a slave to his own reputation as others are. Since he's so sure everybody already thinks they have him all figured out and are predetermined to dislike him, he's usually just mean from the get-go in order to beat them to the punch.