The complexities of the story and characters within the Harry Potter franchise can never be understated. While Harry was always meant to be the chosen one, his survival was contingent on many moving parts that he could hardly keep track of. That said, while Dumbledore did his best to set Harry up for success against Lord Voldemort, there were still variables that even he hadn't considered. But this allowed for unexpected characters to be unsung heroes later on.
While the path Harry was placed on was filled with twists and turns, that didn't mean he was the only one that struggled with the hand he was dealt. Draco Malfoy was another character in Harry Potter who lived life at the mercy of a larger cause; in this case, his father, Lucius, and their family name. Because of this, his misplaced sense of superiority put him at odds with Harry for most of their school careers. But even though they never saw eye to eye, Draco was a massive factor in why Harry ultimately defeated Voldemort.
Draco Malfoy Was Always Harry's Greatest Rival
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Rivalries are a common trope in fiction, but they don't always make two characters enemies. In fact, rivals are often designed so that both characters force each other to be a better version of themselves or at least push their narrative forward. As a result, Harry and Draco were perfect examples of rivals in Harry Potter. While Voldemort was also a rival for Harry, their destined battle made him more of an obstacle than someone that forced Harry to grow. On the other hand, Draco did much to help Harry grow. A great example of this was how Draco's tormenting of Neville led to Harry being discovered as a Seeker for the Quidditch team. However, Draco became Seeker for Slytherin the following year using his own nefarious methods.
As the years progressed, Draco and Harry went down separate but parallel paths, but Harry's impact on Draco still greatly affected his heart. While he was working with Voldemort alongside his family, Draco was never truly committed to the cause. As a result, his wavering loyalty opened an unexpected door where the wizard inadvertently gave Harry his best chance at success.
Malfoy's Internal Conflict Ultimately Helped Harry Beat Voldemort
In Harry Potter, Malfoy's young adult life was largely led in the service of those more powerful than him. For example, while he did Voldemort's bidding, he was just as scared of his father and didn't want to disappoint him. However, this nearly went down a darker path when he was tasked with and struggled to kill Albus Dumbledore. But as he faced his headmaster, he didn't kill him outright. Instead, he disarmed the wizard. Dumbledore tried to reason with Draco, who was scared for his life because he had to kill the wizard, or Voldemort would kill him instead. But before he could commit completely, Snape came in and killed Dumbledore instead, as part of the headmaster's plan.
The conflict Draco faced, combined with his hesitance, was what finally turned the tide in the final battle. Being that he had no intent to kill anyone, disarming Dumbledore was meant to threaten the wizard so that he could hopefully give up, sparing Draco's soul. But, in doing so, it made the Elder Wand secretly loyal to Draco, something Harry would eventually piece together. At this point in Harry Potter, their rivalry was at an all-time high as well, and even though Harry knew the truth, it's unlikely he ever buried the hatchet with Draco and showed his appreciation for what he had done. Nevertheless, Draco's hesitancy, fear and conviction made him a hero and ultimately saved Harry, as he set Voldemort up to fail.