All it took was a little bit of magic, a top hat full of derivative ideas, and a delayed train to London, for J.K. Rowling to create the age, gender, and language transcending phenomenon of our time.

Their worth as quality pieces of literature is always going to be up for discussion, as is the varying quality of the multi-billion dollar movie franchise. Being a take-it-or-leave-it bystander in proceedings, it’s somewhat of a relief that we’ve reached the end.

But you can colour me ginger and call me Ron, because whatever concoction David Yates used this time around, it worked. It’s a dastardly spell that causes unforeseen lumps in throats and unwarranted moisture in the tear ducts. The biggest trick of all appears to have been making me care for these kids for the first time in eight films and, come the finale, realising that I might just miss them after all.

Part 2 picks up where we left off. Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), he who must surely now be named because frankly he’s trying to kill the lot of you, has the Elder Wand, lifted from the grave of Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and seemingly the final piece in his plan to destroy Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe). Simultaneously, the boy wizard, along with Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), is attempting to destroy the remaining Horcruxs in order to give them a chance during the climactic Hogwarts showdown.

The film begins with an exposition heavy 10 minutes (as if anyone is starting from here?) before the brakes are removed, setting in motion the mechanics of battle that kicks the franchise from its comfort zone into truly epic territory for the first time.

It’s a warzone in which director Yates (whose consistent vision for the last three films has helped the series) doesn’t hold back, and it’s for that reason that this might not be for the younger Potter fans. Many cherished characters are brutally dismissed and even some of Hogwarts’ youngest pupils don’t graduate from the fight. Throw in marauding ogres, rampaging Dementors, and a particularly nasty snake, and it’s clear that death and destruction are the order of the day.

Perhaps unsurprisingly then, this pays off in spades when it comes to the emotional beats, with every character arc striking a resonating chord. Most surprising is Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom. With a grandstanding speech that would make Maximus Aurelius quiver and a couple of action sequences, he almost steals the thunder from lightning bolt head.

Radcliffe, Grint, and the ever impressive, if a little sidelined, Watson, now have a chemistry and confidence in their roles that means every tear stained exchange carries real weight. For all the cynicism levelled at their acting ability at least they can leave this behind with full honours.

Any grumbles are minor; berating the lack of screentime for Jim Broadbent and Helena Bonham-Carter is just being greedy when you have Ralph Fiennes impressing from beneath the latex, and a franchise best turn from Alan Rickman as Snape.

The destruction of Hogwarts is an astonishing spectacle, but it’s perfectly balanced by Ron and Hermione’s burgeoning relationship, and Harry’s acceptance of his fate.

In the words of Ron Weasley, “it’s bloody brilliant”.