Is Luna Lovegood the anti-Hermione?

[Rob]

No: HPFGUIDX 113536

> Paul: 
> > I agree 100% that Luna is the exact opposite of Hermione. She 
> > is aloof and certainly a non-rational person. I can't see her
> > as the catalyst of Harry's redemption. Yes she was unwillingly 
> > helpful at the end of OOTP, by creating feelings of pity from 
> > Harry to her.  But she was only a deus ex machina in order to 
> > de-escalate the tension of the main character and the readers 
> > and give an optimistic note for the future. Instead Hermione 
> > is virtually living inside Harry's mind, heart and soul. 

Rob:

I'd have to disagree here.  A deus ex machina, as I understand it, 
would strictly be a cheezy device introduced late in the third act 
to resolve otherwise insoluble plot problems.  For example:

Ron: Again, I can't believe we made it out of there alive.

Hermione:  There is no way we should have survived.  I mean, the 
very thought is - 

Harry: Thank Dennis Creevey.  He's the one who [insert miraculous 
and implausible escape scenario here]

Luna's 'situation,' for lack of a better word, is completely 
different.  She never saves the day, and nothing she does (vs. what 
she says) comes out of left field.  She is an active player 
throughout the entire book.