British actor Tom Felton struck gold when he was cast as Draco Malfoy, the evil schoolboy wizard, in the Harry Potter film series based on J.K. Rowling’s novels. Though Felton went on to star in movies like Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), we will always remember him for perfectly playing Draco — the snootiest kid in the Slytherin house.

We take a look at Felton’s most memorable moments as Draco Malfoy as the actor has turned 34 today.

Tries to befriend Harry

We first see Draco in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), where he tries to befriend Harry. The much younger Felton tells Ron Weasley in a mocking tone, “Red hair and a hand-me-down-robe? You must be a Weasley.” He then goes on to tell Harry how some wizarding families are “better” than the others and he should not be mixing with the “wrong sorts”.

Harry, however, rejects Draco’s not-so-friendly offer of friendship by saying that he has been aware of who the “wrong sorts” are. Here begins the seven-book-long hatred Draco harboured in his heart for the boy who lived.

Monologues about the Chamber of Secret

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Felton’s Draco revels in the fact that fellow students with non-magical parents are being targeted at Hogwarts. Harry and Ron suspect Draco’s involvement and plans to question him about the incidents. They use Polyjuice potion to look like his lackeys Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle to enter the Slytherin common room and find Draco.

Draco appears to be in his element when Harry and Ron, now disguised as Crabbe and Goyle, enter the Slytherin common room. He reveals that his father, Lucious Malfoy, has told him how Salazar Slytherin’s Chamber opened 50 years ago led to a “mudblood” (slang for a witch/wizard with non-magical parents) being killed.

Getting punched by Hermione

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Draco draws even more hate when he became the reason for Rubeus Hagrid’s pet Hippogriff, Buckbeak, being executed. Harry, Ron and Hermione spot Draco and his companions trying to spy on the execution. “Father said I could keep the Hippogriff’s head. I think I’ll donate it to the Gryffindors’ common room,” the three friends hear Draco boasting.

“You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!” Hermione shouts at Draco. When Draco realised that Hermione would not really jinx him, he starts laughing but gets swiftly punched in the face by Hermione. The moment was cathartic for everyone who had had enough of Draco’s negativity.

Fails to kill Dumbledore

By Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Draco has bigger problems than Harry and his friends in his life. He has been tasked with killing Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore by the most powerful evil wizard Voldemort. Confronted by Draco in the Astronomy Tower, Dumbledore tries to talk the student down by saying, “Draco, you are no assassin.” In reply, Draco says, “I’ve done things that would shock you,” before showing his dark mark.

Despite his words, Draco can be seen struggling to finish his task in the powerful scene. Felton is able to show the conflict in Draco’s mind that prevents him from killing Dumbledore until Snape turns up and does the job for him.

Draco refuses to identify Harry

Draco turning away from the dark side is clearer in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 1 (2010). Harry, Hermione and Ron are captured by snatchers and brought to Malfoy Manor. Before being captured, Hermione jinxed Harry to disfigure his face. The Death Eaters call on Draco to identify his classmate so that he can be taken to Voldemort. Despite his father pressuring him, Draco first says, “I can’t be sure”, before deflecting the question. Even though Draco does not go out of his way to help Harry, his refusal to point out Harry actually saves the life of the boy who lived.