Is Luna Lovegood the anti-Hermione?

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 113483

Rob wrote:
> I'm playing around with the idea that Luna has been introduced as 
an all-purpose opposition to Hermione.  >

Valky:
At Last!!! someone who agrees with me.
I said exactly this in my very first post after reading OOtp. That 
was a lot of posts ago... lol

Rob also wrote:
I figure this character is required because Hermione's other nemeses 
(is that even a word?), namely Trelawney and Skeeter, don't seem to 
be taking anything more than a bit part in the action, and Hermione 
definitely deserves better than that.

Valky:
Right you are! I never percieved Trelawney or Skeeter as being any 
challenge to Hermione anyway. These two characters simply *confirm* 
Hermiones cynicism and opposition to their intellectual ideals for 
her, where Luna actually puts up a respectable challenge. Hermione 
can't *prove* Luna a fool so she is left in her logic to accept the 
Lunacy that she would rather rebuke.

Rob: 
> Luna is an... 'intuitive' thinker, shall we say, vs. Hermione's 
straight up rationalist approach to the world.  I suspect she will 
provide romantic competition for Hermione vis a vis Ron.  And as 
flakey as she presents, Luna is no pushover.
> 

Valky:
I entirely agree and I think that the opportunity is given here to 
Hermione to grow and become stronger by it. 
I think that the challenge of accepting what Luna , something 
Hermione cannot rationalise or exercise her logic to *control* 
(theres probably a better word than control here but I can't think 
of it ) may serve to help Hermione overcome her fear of failure when 
she most needs it, too.