Why is everyone afraid of Luna?

[samnanya]

No: HPFGUIDX 84244

dan
Absent for a couple months, I did a search and found
very, very few references to her at all. My own old
posts showed up right away.

I have some speculations, naturally, as to why Lovegood
isn't much speculated on, but I want to ask people on
the list a couple things before I go too far in that
direction.
Why was Luna introduced?
Why was she given the moment at the end of OOP with Potter?


samnanya
I have posted quite extensively on Luna and my opinions
on why she was introduced though it seems they are buried
under an invisibility cloak somewhere.

I will briefly summarize my opinions and observations
below -- if you would like canon "support" I provided
some "plot points" in those aforementioned posts, and
am willing to stoke the fires again if necessary.....

1. Why was Luna introduced? Only JKR knows the real answer
but here is my take....

a.  to balance Hermione's hard logical opinions with her
more emotional ones. 

b.  to provide a possible SHIP (romantic or friendship)
for Harry in Book 6 without getting away from the main 
storyline and turning the series into a soap opera.

c.  to provide a female character with similar experiences
to Harry that he can identify with (deceased mother, imo
soon to be orphaned), treated with suspicion by most of
her peers, other traits that can be easily added to her
personna (is her dottiness part of a spell?, etc.)

d.  to teach a further lesson on the evils and consequences
of outcasting those who are different (if JKR so chooses). 

e.  to provide a Stargirl (see Jerry Spinelli's excellent
book) influence on Hogwarts and Harry. 

f.  to pay homage to a character in The Little White Horse
by Elizabeth Goudge, one of JKR's favorite books - I am in
the middle of reading that now, more comments and
observations when done.

g. to provide Harry with someone to explore the MoM with,
particularly the arch - I dont see Hermione going back
there anytime soon (before graduation) if for no other
reason in that it affects Harry so much.


2. Why was she given the moment with Harry?

She was the last hope in getting his spirits up --
wasn't Dumbledore, wasnt Hagrid, wasn't his friends,
wasn't the mirror, wasn't Nick ---
then ... an accidental meeting with Luna, in one of
the best chapters JKR has ever written ..... his emotions
went from pity, to offering to help, to feeling a little
better ..... not much but could be a start of Harry
actually listening to what she has to say.
Also this scene, along with the MoM sequence and her
staunch defense of her dad has me convinced that her
dottiness is artificially induced  (canon in other posts)
though everyone loves her spaciness.... dont be fooled.

3. Why  is a larger role in store for Luna?

a. She is defintely definitely definitely NOT ABOARD 
THE TRAIN LEAVING HOGWARTS -- for the fifth and last time
I am posting this.... That is not an accident and will
provide a continuous and seamless start for book 6 if JKR
chooses to use it.

b.  Her dad has to answer for printing the interview with
Harry in the Quibbler that started to open the eyes of the
people that the Daily Prophet isnt the only "correct" voice
in town.... Luna loves her dad more than anyone and if he
were to be killed, Willard,... {oops, wrong scenario} 
someone would have to deal with a newly orphaned "fragile"
young lady who now has a parental history that shadows
Harry's {without all the Gryffindor heroics}. Her dad's
death would signal the beginning of the second war in a
very public and shocking way.

c.  she is the perfect ship for Harry without bogging down
the plot - kind of like Ginny dating some guys who don't
matter while waiting for Harry to come around to noticing her.

d.  i am not even getting into all the possible subplots
with her mom's death as well as Remus Lupin....

Anyway, happy conjecturing ....
Samnanya