WARNING: Character death and slash of the H/D variety.

And this, my dear readers, is why I'm not allowed to write fanfic during Marine Science. No matter how boring the class is.

Potential

Draco Malfoy had had potential. But Draco Malfoy is dead.

I shouldn't be surprised that no one cares. If anything, I shouldn't care either. And maybe I would've been celebrating if I didn't feel somewhat saddened by his loss. Why?

Because I mourn the loss of who Draco Malfoy could have been.

Yes, Ronald Bilius Weasley, really did state that. Sure, the git was a spoiled brat, and yes, he did eventually become the Death Eater scum we thought he would be.

But he could've been so much more.

I've seen the memories in Harry's Pensieve. The night of the Sectumsempra Curse. It was proof Malfoy was human, that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as willing as we'd always believe to follow in his father's footsteps and serve You-Know-Who.

He made some not so smart decisions though, and in the end, he couldn't defy his father and save himself. So he died.

I imagine how it could have been sometimes.

If Malfoy had made a decision that night. If Snape hadn't dragged him away before he could really think about it. So many ifs. But only one reality.

He would've agreed, and Dumbledore would smile a last tired smile, that twinkle in his eyes, then someone would strike him dead. It's Snape. That part never changes in my mind. Never trusted him in the first place.

Malfoy would have been taken to Grimmauld Place by Harry, who I know was frozen under that Invisibility Cloak. He wouldn't trust him at first, none of us would. But eventually, we would learn to.

He would become an almost friend of ours. I'd find him somewhat amusing sometimes. Maybe even learn to like him. Hermione would be ecstatic to have someone who actually cared about her books and what was in them, a kindred intellectual spirit.

Harry…Harry would find himself falling in love with Malfoy.

I didn't believe it at first. I wanted to deny it, I mean the guy was dating my little sister at the time. I know it'd break her heart. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

All during sixth year, Harry's main goal had been to find out what Malfoy was up to. It was an obsession. Just not the kind he thought it was. Most people thought he was playing the hero again, trying to thwart any plot Malfoy had in the works.

It was so much more than that. His eyes would light up when he talked of his daily Malfoy observations, and Ginny slowly became less of a priority. Malfoy and what he was up to was his only concern.

Ginny will be good for him. She'll love him unconditionally and give him the wife, kids, and a house with a white picket fence he used to want.

But he would've have been happy with Malfoy.

They would have been happy and in love.

Harry was never suited for the cookie cutter life. A relationship with Malfoy certainly wouldn't have been boring.

I mourn the loss of Draco Malfoy.

I mourn the loss of what could have been.

Draco Malfoy had had potential.

But Draco Malfoy…

is dead.