"Do you know why I hated you all these years?"
Harry turned to look at the man who had spoken, shaking his head.
"Because, even at age eleven, you were the type of person who would one day lead everybody. And I have never been like that."
He narrowed his eyes at the man. "What makes you think that? I've seen you stand in front of a class and tell us that we're going to brew something that could, potentionally, kill us halfway through the process."
Snape chuckled mirthlessly. "That is called using fear as a persuasive tool, Potter." His lips half-formed a sneer. "You, on the other hand, were made for leading."
Harry snorted. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that when I was stuffed into my cupboard for ten years," he said, sarcastically.
The potions master glared. "That is precisely why you lead us, Potter. You know what it is like to be on the outside."
He leaned closer to Harry, who felt like he should move back, but couldn't.
"That is the reason why you are the leader against the Dark Lord. Your childhoods were not all that different from each other. It is the choice you made when you arrived at Hogwarts that the two paths diverged."
Harry thought on it, coming to the conclusion that, maybe, Snape was right about this. It didn't mean he was going to trust everything he said. After all, Snape had his own agenda and always would.
He nodded. "Very well. I concede on that point."
Snape straightened up and his mouth turned into as near a smile as Harry had ever seen. "I believe that with that you have proved yourself worthy of being called a leader. Pity the dark lord and Dumbledore have never been able to compromise."
Harry watched him leave, back straight and robes flowing in the showy style Snape had perfected. He remained where he was standing, thinking over everything that had happened from the time he was rushed from the Dursleys in the middle of the attack to now, being at Hogwarts for his sixth year and almost at the end of that.
Well, he thought, I might as well get started on being a leader. Although I doubt Snape is going to like this. He headed up the stairs to Gryffindor tower, to catch Ron before Quidditch practice. This was going to need some strategy.
