The Importance of Luna.. the new Trio

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 80212

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "boyd_smythe"
<boyd.t.smythe at f...> wrote:
> <<bb_mboy: 
> > I could actually see a new Trio forming. Because Neville and Luna 
> have an emotionally detacted calm, deep wisdom and insight, and 
> would maintain somewhat distant detached friendships, Harry will 
> feel far more comfortable around them than he will around Ron and 
> Hermione. ... He will still remain polite and friendly with Ron and 
> Hermione, but on a deeper friendship level, he will be detached.>>
> 
> > <<Melanie: 
> > ... Hermione Granger ... isn't afraid to tell Harry how stupid he 
> > is acting and he is the one person who has always managed to 
> > change his mood to some degree. I see Ron and Harry pulling away 
> > from each other however, I do not think Hermione will be willing 
> > to let this happen very easily. ... >>
> 

> Remnant:
> 
> I think writing Ron out of Harry's close circle might be a bit 
> premature. IMO, Harry enjoys Ron's company--nothing more, 
> nothing less. They're best pals and are always there for each other 
> when action is needed. ...
> 

bboy_mn:
No one is saying the Ron will be written out. I said Harry will
continue to maintain a polite and friendly relationship with Ron and
Hermione. To take that one step farther, he will still continue to
hang out with them and do homework with them to some extent, but they
will notice that he is somewhat distant and detached. On the surface
it will appear to an outsider that life is going on a usual, but Ron
and Hermione will sense the emotional distance in Harry. And Harry
will spend more tme with Neville and Luna, because they are
emotionally safe people to be with.


> Remnant:
> 
> Harry's reaction to Luna seemed more revelatory in that she has a 
> solid understanding that she is a complete individual, ... that is 
> a lesson Harry does need to learn. ...
> 
> But Luna is more teaching by example here. I don't see her as 
> Harry's therapist.
> 
> -Remnant


bboy_mn:
We have already seen several examples in the books where Harry
withholds information for Ron and Hermione because he knows how they
are going to react; emotionally.

In GoF, Harry dreads telling Ron and Hermoine about the dream of the
Riddle house and his scar hurting at the beginning of the book. When
he does finally tell them, they react exactly the way he predicts;
anxious, worried, and emotional. 

Having to worry about creating Ron and Hermione's emotional reactions,
and having to worry about facing those same reactions is exactly the
thing that Harry will want to escape. He has enough on his mind
without having to guard their emotions too, and I'm sure he will
REALLY not be in the mood to put up with the 'fuss' and worry.

Of course, they react this way because they love Harry and are deeply
concerned about him. But when Harry has a problem, he is trying to
calm his own emotions, and having Ron and Hermione 'freak out'
(slightly exaggerated) everytime he tries to talk about something
serious is not much of an incentive to go talk to them.

But when he approaches Neville and Luna, he knows that they will react
with a calm detachment. They will also react with a calm, quiet wisdom
that he is not likely to get from Ron and Hermione.

In fact, this calm detactment that Harry will display to Ron and
Hermione will definitely not go unnoticed by them. I suspect the once
they sense that something is wrong, the will continue to bug Harry
about it, and that is exactly the wrong thing to do. By 'fussing'
about it, they are more likely to drive Harry away, which in turn will
 only make them pursue the matter more, which in turn will only
irritate Harry more.

Some one mentioned that we predicted the exact same reaction of
detachment from Harry at the end of GoF, but GoG did not end the same
way as OoP. We see clear examples at the end of OoP of Harry feeling
very detached and isolated. When is is with people he wants to be
alone; when he is alone he wants to be with people. When he is with
people, they are irritating, they want to comfort him and talk about
'feeling' which is not what Harry wants to do with people who are
going to interject a great deal of their own feelings. When he looks
out over the other students on the grounds, he feels like a complete
outside, completely separate from them. Amoung them, but not one of
them. The are very strong hints of this sense of isolation at the end
of OoP. 

So Harry will only be able to find comfort in people who understand
his feelings without having to talk about them. He may still be social
friends with Ron and Hermione, but he will only feel comfortable with
his own emotional landscape when he is around Neville and Luna. No
matter what he tells them, he can count on true understanding
accompanied by a calm detachment from emotions.

Of course, that just one man's opinions.

bboy_mn