Why is everyone afraid of Luna?

[augustinapeach]

No: HPFGUIDX 84266

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dan" <darkthirty at s...> wrote:
> (snipped)

> Why was Luna introduced?  Why was she given the moment at the end 
of OOP with Potter?
 
Now AP:

I'm still trying to sort through my own answers to your questions.  
But here are the beginnings . . . .

My first reaction to Luna after reading OoP was that she represents 
Faith -- pure, unshakeable belief even when there is no 
solid "evidence."  She speaks with assurance of Crumple-Horned 
Snorkacks (sorry about spelling - too lazy to get up and check!) and 
heliopaths and Fudge's persecution of goblins.  I thought her 
conversation with Harry at the book's end was really touching 
because she gave him some faith that there is *something* beyond the 
veil at the point when he was most hopeless. ("Harry felt almost as 
though he had lost his godfather all over again in losing the hope 
that he might be able to see or speak to him once more.  He walked 
slowly and miserably back up through the empty castle, wondering 
whether he would ever feel cheerful again." -- OotP, p. 862) (I 
overcame my laziness)

I think Hermione and Luna serve as a wonderful contrast to each 
other.  Hermione is Logic/Science -- everything can be studied, you 
can reason your way to a solution, things that aren't logical or 
can't be explained simply don't exist.  Luna as Faith believes and 
accepts.  I don't know that it was JKR's intention to set them up as 
opposites (my ideas on this may go back to discussions in a 
philosophy class several years ago).  But I think it is appropriate -
- Harry needs them both.