Why is everyone afraid of Luna?

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 84222

Wondering why so few Luna posts, dan asked:
> Why was Luna introduced?
> Why was she given the moment at the end of OOP with Potter?

Well, the reason *I* haven't posted on Luna lately is mostly because I
haven't made any more progress in my understanding of her, although
the new Granger article cited a few posts back certainly seems to have
confirmed the feelings and thoughts that I'd had.  Besides, these days
I've been spending way too much time trying to pin down what I think
Dumbledore has been doing!

So, why was Luna introduced, besides as an alchemical symbol (alchemy
not being one of my areas of expertise)?  When she first appeared, my
immediate reaction was to think, uh oh, here's that annoying character
who's supposed to add interest or comic relief or something, but is
just going to be spouting nonsense that's completely off the point. 
By the end of the book, I was completely taken with her.  She is a
completely new voice in Harry's world.

It's hard for me to pin it down.  I think she's represents acceptance
of the "unconditional" that Harry has never known.  Even though her
mother is gone, Luna is still secure in her love, in what it means to
be loved, and that the beloved never truly leave us -- indeed, we will
see them again.  She also seems to exhibit and unconditional
acceptance of life.  People's comments disappear into the pool of her
tranquility without a ripple.  She can see the thestrals, speak of her
possessions disappearing or being called "Loony" with perfect calm. I
don't mean to imply that she's indifferent to all this, just that
somehow she has a very effective way of processing it, or something. 
Harry, on the other hand, has a more volatile, reactive personality,
which, combined with the trouble that always finds him, has left him
at the very end of his rope, at his wit's end, and seemingly feeling
every kind of pain there is.

Just at Harry's darkest hour, Luna is the balm to his wounds and the
ray of hope.  Dumbledore couldn't be that.  Ron, Hermione, and the
others could be no help, and neither for once could Hagrid, though he
tried.  Harry couldn't do it for himself as he sat so long by the
lake; he could only try *not* to think about his godfather, or feel as
human as everyone else, or even feel the cold.  Only Luna could
lighten his burden, and only after that could he bear to be with the
others.

Gee, I didn't know I had all that in me!  I think the answer to your
second question is in there, too.

When I read the passages where Harry worried that he would no longer
be "as good as a son," or when Molly's hug was unbearable instead of
comforting after Harry overheard that Voldemort might be possessing
him, I was sad that he had no idea what "unconditional love" might
mean, no sense that anyone would have that for him (well, IMO Sirius
did love him that way but Harry had no true realization of it).  I
think Harry is going to need the security this would provide him in
the years ahead, and I believe Luna could be the one to help him
achieve it.  I don't necessarily mean this to be a romantic
relationship at all, although I wouldn't rule it out eventually.

Finishing up, I also think there will be more to Luna than this.  Her
own security in herself is what allows her to be so open to all the
people, ideas, and possibilities in the world.  She has the potential
to help Harry and the others in this area as well.

Annemehr