There are some pretty nasty characters in the Harry Potter books and movies. Lord Voldemort is a mass murderer intent on wiping out muggle-borns, Bellatrix Lestrange is happy to follow out the Dark Lord's orders no matter how bad they are, and Draco Malfoy is a bully who laps up the chance to torment anybody who lives at Hogwarts. Draco's father Lucius is another, however, and spends his time in the series meddling in Harry's affairs.
Jacob Isaacs did a brilliant job at bringing the character to the big screen but, with just limited time at their disposal, Warner Bros didn't contain every little fact about Lucius.
He Claimed He Was Hoodwinked Into Serving Voldemort
To an outsider, Lucius is a clear Death Eater. His wardrobe alone suggests this but his pompous manner and snobbery towards muggle-borns and muggle-sympathizers is well-documented. And you can be forgiven for wondering how the Ministry of Magic didn't realize they possessed such an obvious villain.
In the Chamber of Secrets book, however, Arthur Weasley explains this. He details that Lucius claimed he was hoodwinked into working for Voldemort and placed under the Imperius Curse in order to ensure his compliance. This is enough for him not just to be let off the hook, but also take up a high-profile job at the Ministry. Why they didn't just use Veritaserum we'll never know...
He Warned Draco To Tread The Line With Harry
In the second movie, the Chamber of Secrets, Draco is seen moaning about Harry to his father. Lucius is then rather dismissive of his feelings but, in the source material, actively warns his son to tread a careful line when it comes to handling the Boy Who Lived.
Firstly, this is because he feels it wouldn't be prudent to go after Harry when so many people are inspired by and look up to the Gryffindor student. And, secondly, because Lucius himself is unsure as to just how powerful the youngster is. After all, if he can defeat Voldemort, he must be pretty powerful...
He Bullied His Son Because Of Hermione Granger
Also in the second Potter book, Lucius has some words with Draco when it comes to Hermione Granger. And they're not very nice, either.
Lucius scolds Draco for finishing below Hermione in every single exam they sat the previous school year, with the Gryffindor pupil coming top of the class. Lucius is angry, feeling his son should be performing better than somebody so new to magic and with muggle parents. And his words only fire Draco up, with the Slytherin student feeling she's favored because of her origins. He's wrong, of course, but anything to help him sleep a little easier at night...
He Wanted Draco At Durmstrang
In the Goblet of Fire book, Draco Malfoy is overheard talking to Slytherin students about his upbringing. And, in a candid chat, he reveals he was very nearly sent to Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts - because Lucius felt their lack of tolerance towards muggle-borns made the school the best educational place to attend.
Unfortunately for Harry, Narcissa Malfoy intervened. She didn't want her son being sent abroad so instead insisted he was to remain in the country at Hogwarts. This was a battle Lucius lost - and it's not the only one.
He Thought Voldemort Was Dead
In the fourth Potter movie, Harry is present for Lord Voldemort's rebirth. After that, there's a brief exchange between Lucius and Voldemort. The Death Eater insists he 'hasn't renounced the old ways' and claims that, had any news of rumors of the Dark Lord's survival many years previously had reached him, he'd have done his utmost to help his master out.
It's a similar story in the source material, except Lucius openly confesses that he thought Voldemort was dead. It's just a minor difference but one that's worth flagging nonetheless. His master understands this and doesn't scold him on this occasion, instead letting him off the hook.
He Met With Fudge To Bewitch Sturgis Podmore and Broderick Bode
In the Order of the Phoenix blockbuster, there's a brief scene where Lucius Malfoy and Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge are both talking to each other. When they notice Harry is listening in, they then pause. Nothing ever comes of this little moment but, in the books, it's got far more sinister undertones.
It's revealed that Lucius would often use Fudge to get the Ministry workers he needed on-side. He places both Sturgis Podmore and Broderick Bode under the Imperius Curse, then makes them carry out some dark and dastardly deeds. Bode is placed in St Mungo's hospital after managing to shrug off the curse but is then killed by some Devils Snare, which is dropped off for him disguised as a normal, non-man-eating plant.
He Advocated Dolores Umbridge
Dolores Umbridge struts into Hogwarts as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher during the events of the Order of the Phoenix movie. What the film doesn't explain, though, is that Lucius was actually a staunch supporter of hers (as you'd expect, given they're both similarly wicked).
He gives an interview to the Daily Prophet explaining how highly he rates Dolores - while also expressing a belief her appointment at the school is a sign of the place finally heading in the right direction. Of course he's wrong, she's completely evil and vile. But evilness supports evilness, apparently.
People Thought He Was Safer in Azkaban Than Free
At the end of the Order of the Phoenix movie and book, Lucius Malfoy is arrested for attempting to steal a prophecy from the Ministry of Magic. This sees him locked up in Azkaban prison and there's a brief blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment of him posing for a picture holding up his prison number while clad in a black and white outfit.
Yet in the Half-Blood Prince, it's revealed that many thought Lucius being incarcerated was actually a good thing. It meant Voldemort couldn't punish him directly for his failure to procure the prophecy, because he couldn't get to him. However, little does anybody know that the Dark Lord secretly punished Lucius by giving Draco the job of killing Albus Dumbledore.
He Ran Through Hogwarts Screaming
During the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the Malfoys sit out the majority of the Battle of Hogwarts. This is pretty much the same in the source material - except they actually enter the castle when it's revealed Voldemort's latest attempt at killing Harry has failed.
They run through Hogwarts 'screaming' for their son, worried that Draco's body will later be seen among the many, many casualties from the war. They're fortunate to be able to reunite with their child, because others aren't so fortunate. The Weasleys lose Fred, Colin Creevey is murdered after sneaking in to fight and both Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks perish as well.
He Joined In The Celebrations
Also in the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the last fans see of the Malfoys is the trio walking away from the Battle of Hogwarts. After this, they're never glimpsed or even mentioned again (until the flash-forward).
However, in the book, it's different. Instead, Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco are all present for the celebrations that break out following Voldemort's death. They look uncomfortable being surrounded by so many people who were their enemies only a short time ago but stay and tuck into the feast nonetheless. This would have been amusing to see on the big screen but, alas, Warner Bros chose to tinker with their endings instead.