Proud to Change
Draco Lucius Malfoy knew the power that a name contained. Generations of influence led his family to inherit substantial wealth and a preponderance of power. For hundreds of years, his relatives benefitted from their family’s past instead of their own actions. Their name was already cemented in the upper echelons of wizarding society. There was no need to prove oneself. At some point, one of his ancestors must have worked to build what Draco simply received, but it was more myth than history now.
He was taught to be proud of the legacy his surname carried and he thought destiny was closely tied to descendants. He recognized like-minded people at Hogwarts based on their surnames- Nott, Parkinson, Greengrass. He also recognized those who had tainted familial ties- Weasley, Longbottom, Potter, and those that didn’t have any wizarding ties at all- Granger. He formed alliances based on names. Based his choices around their tradition.
Suddenly, his world was turned upside down. No longer was he accepted due to his legacy, but instead avoided. He wasn’t welcomed because of his family ties but rather shunned. He didn’t feel pride at being the Malfoy heir; he felt ashamed.
For the first time in his life, Draco Malfoy did not want to be defined by his name. He devoted his time to learning and growing. He built a career as a prolific solicitor, working tirelessly to reform the archaic laws that his ancestors had created. However, no matter how hard he worked, he couldn’t escape his name.
Until her.
She came along and upended his world yet again. He watched as she forced her way into a world that didn’t want her. She bulldozed everything in her path as she made people respect her and created her own legacy. Her name did not establish her. She established her name.
By merely allowing him into her orbit, she recreated him. The pride he thought he had abandoned merely transformed. No longer was he proud of his legacy but of hers. So, when the day came to tie their families together for eternity, he knew what he needed to do. She said it didn’t matter, that something as silly as a surname couldn’t define her, but Draco knew the power of a name, and he wanted to be proud of its legacy again.
Thus, Draco Lucius Malfoy became Draco Malfoy Granger.