Harry Potter and the Battle of the Age

Harry is back for his final year at Hogwarts, while the rest of the magical world strains under the Second War. Harry manages to lose himself in ordinary school troubles, like his N.E.W.T. exams, Quidditch matches, and teenage romances-- but something is always lurking at the back of his mind. Professor Trelawney predicted years ago that a final battle between himself and Lord Voldemort would bring one of them to their demise. And Harry knows it must happen soon.

School is back in session at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Harry's final return to Hogwarts is a clash of routine and extraordinary-- a surprising choice was made for Head Boy, they actually have a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher they've laid eyes on before, and Snape is more murderous than ever... but directs his rage at a student besides Harry. Will wonders never cease?

“Where were you two?” Ron asked teasingly, cutting some pie. “Whoa...” he said when he saw their faces. “Seriously, where?”

Not an extremely plot oriented couple of chapters, but fun.

Rachel Connor does not love her father.

These chapters are filled with plenty of angry fight scenes, scattered throughout a near-panicky level of school stress. They're a bit tense ; )... but these were some of my favorite chapters, to write and re-read. We find out something pretty big about Rachel's story, and her relationship with Snape (not in a cheesy way-- what a real relationship with him would be. Just a hint-- never say he messed up a potion).

The famed chapter thirteen-- and yes, I do follow JK's example and sneak the villain in there somewhere. Or at least a reference... I don't think you'll have much trouble finding it ;)

This chapter is a little off-topic... but, as Hagrid says, you can't go seven years at Hogwarts without seeing the giant squid.

Rated 'R' because chapter 17 gets a bit... nasty.

I think an 'R' rating may be too much for these chapters, but I'm playing it safe.

Chapter 23, for the first half, anyway, is mainly Rachel mourning for Harry (whether this is appropriate or not, I won't say). It was hard to do, but an interesting challenge... to encompass everything they had been through together, and what she was feeling now, and add the fact that she's only seventeen (well, barely eighteen) and have her mourn, and have it not come across as corny. All I'll say is *I didn't give in to melodrama* (mostly). True grief is intense. She's just seen horrible things happen. She's a kid. Especially if you've just read the previous chapters, I don't think this is overly angst-y.

Simply titled 'The End'... appropriate, I think. Here I tie up loose ends, finish storylines, and put the nice little bow on it to finish off the fic, the series. It's a bit short, but I didn't want to make it such a big deal. It is explained in simple words, gives you idea of what can happen next, and has a nicely not over- or under-done feeling. Come and catch the last train from Hogwarts.