The school year ends under a shadow. At the Leaving Feast, Draco Malfoy panics over a letter saying the Dark Lord has taken over Malfoy Manor, while Ron stews in regret as he realises Neville has quietly taken the best-friend place he threw away. On the train, Harry, Neville, and Luna share a calm ride home, but at King’s Cross Harry’s old fear comes roaring back when every family vanishes and no one comes for him. Two hours later, shivering and hungry, he is finally collected by a Cruciatus-battered Severus Snape, who explains Dumbledore left him there and takes him “home” to Prince Manor. Over hot food, coffee and cocoa, Harry faces the fallout of the Department of Mysteries, hears why his stunt was so dangerous, and learns that Dumbledore never intended to train him. Severus, calling him “his” child at last, promises to find a way to remove the Horcrux and starts laying out a real Horcrux hunt: the orphanage, Riddle House, the Gaunt shack, and maybe even Hogwarts itself. Harry goes to bed sore, scolded, but safe – and finally certain he is not facing this war alone.
