Luna Lovegood
chapter ten of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
After a hectic morning, the Order finally accompanies Harry and his friends to King’s Cross, and they take the Hogwarts Express to school. On the train, Harry runs into Cho and Malfoy, but more importantly meets Luna Lovegood – a fourth-year who seems quite crazy. At school, then, Harry notices winged horses pulling the carriages, which Luna apparently can see as well.
The great black dog gave a joyful bark and gamboled around them, snapping at pigeons, and chasing its own tail.
(by Jenny Dolfen)
The girl beside the window looked up.
(by deeterhi)
Harry knew at once why Neville had chosen to pass this compartment by. The girl gave off an aura of distinct dottiness.
(by reallycorking)
The girl called Luna watched thm over her upside-down magazine, which was called The Quibbler. She did not seem to need to blink as much as normal humans.
(by Chantelle)
“Mimbulus mimbletonia,” [Neville] said proudly…. “It’s really, really rare.”
(by reallycorking)
At that precise moment the door of their compartment slid open.
“Oh… hello, Harry,” said a nervous voice. “Um… bad time?”
Harry wiped the lenses of his glasses with his Trevor-free hand. A very pretty girl with long, shiny black hair was standing in the doorway smiling at him: Cho Chang, the Seeker on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
(by gerre)
Harry… would have liked Cho to discover him sitting with a group of very cool people laughing their heads off at a joke he had just told; he would not have chosen to be sitting with Neville and Loony Lovegood, clutching a toad and dripping in Stinksap.
(by Amanda Grazini)
Ron stared at the cover with his mouth hanging open for a few seconds, then looked around at Ginny for some kind of explanation, but Ginny had stuffed her knuckles in her mouth to stop herself giggling.
(by prettyannamoon)
Harry… did a double take. The coaches were no longer horseless.
(by Heather Campbell)
“The horse things pulling the carriages!” said Harry impatiently; they were, after all, about three feet from the nearest one; it was watching them with empty white eyes. Ron, however, gave Harry a perplexed look.
(by Drew Graham)
“Oh yes,” said Luna, “I’ve been able to see them ever since my first day here. They’ve always pulled the carriages. Don’t worry. You’re just as sane as I am.”
(by reallycorking)
about the chapter
Something You May Not Have Noticed
One thing that’s sort of funny about all the wizarding children having to catch the train at King’s Cross every year is that, unlike most wizarding destinations, King’s Cross doesn’t seem to have any fireplaces connected to the Floo Network. It’s easy enough for kids like Hermione to get there, since they have Muggle parents and are used to traveling via subway and so forth; but children in wizarding families, like the Weasleys, wouldn’t be used to managing it. In fact we see the Weasleys take taxis one year, borrow Ministry cars one year, drive themselves one year, and in this case, walk there from Grimmauld Place. But most of these options wouldn’t be available to your typical family. It’s a funny sort of thing, that’s just never fully explained.
The Wizarding World
I absolutely love the articles Harry reads in The Quibbler. Just the phrase in the Sirius Black article, “Notorious Mass Murderer OR Innocent Singing Sensation?” has got to be worth the cover price alone. Given the size of the wizarding world, I can’t help but wonder how many people actually buy the tabloid magazine? It doesn’t seem to have an international distribution, given its articles about Cornelius Fudge, the Tutshill Tornados, and Sirius Black that wouldn’t have much appeal abroad. Although to be fair, we’ve met our fair share of “loony” wizards by now… perhaps The Quibbler should take some responsibility for just how crazy magical folk can tend to be.
I also find it incredibly interesting that Neville describes his Mimbulus mimbletonia plant as having come from “Assyria” – a Middle Eastern region that, at least in the Muggle world, isn’t often referred to by this name (though it was once the name of an empire, centuries ago). It’s one of those offhanded comments Rowling likes to throw in that almost make my brain explode with questions – for instance, is Assyria still a country in the wizarding world? And for that matter, what happens to wizarding governments in general when Muggle borders do change – do they change as well, or would they typically remain the same? It’s not hard to conceive of a magical world map where respective Ministries of Magic control very different pieces of land than do their modern, Muggle counterparts. After all, a change in Muggle government isn’t necessarily a reason to change wizarding governance, as well.
Do you think Rowling would draw me a world map if I asked her to? ;)
Life at Hogwarts
Pansy Parkinson goes out of her way to make the lives of the Gryffindors miserable, and it’s rare that Hermione mentions her without describing her as a “cow.” And yet, Dumbledore apparently made her a prefect this year. It took me by surprise when I first read it, but then I started thinking about his other options in Slytherin. Millicent Bulstrode? Ugh. Daphne Greengrass? We don’t know anything about her (or any other girls in the class), but let’s just say that having Pansy chosen as prefect over you isn’t exactly a stellar recommendation.
The Boy Who Lived
I love that Harry meets Luna on the train – clearly a girl who will believe any story, no matter how outlandish – and then runs smack into the physical manifestation of her stories; he can see the thestrals now, just like her, and his friends can’t. The juxtaposition, along with Luna’s line that he’s “just as sane as I am,” is forcing Harry to broaden his outlook a little bit. And it’s fair to say that he takes Luna just a bit more seriously than his friends do after this experience.
Something to Remember
We don’t know much about Sturgis Podmore, but it seems strange that he would simply not show up to escort the children of the Order to King’s Cross, since he was supposed to be in their guard. Mad-Eye assumes he’s just become unreliable, but there’s another explanation that we’ll learn later, and that should be much more of a cause for concern.
The Final Word
“I don’t know where she came from but I really like Luna – really fun to write. She’s slightly out of step in many ways but she’s the anti-Hermione. Hermione’s so logical and inflexible in so many ways and Luna is likely to believe 10 impossible things before breakfast.”–J.K. Rowling, June 2003
Love the thestral by Heather Campbell, it’s just how I pictured them. Regarding students traveling to the train, couldn’t they side-along apparate with their parents?
Caroline said this on November 8, 2009 at 10:54 am
There’s a song by The Murmurs called Genius. The Chorus reminds me of Luna:
“She’s kinda freaky, She’s kinda weird
She’s kinda freaky, But I don’t know
I think she’s a genius”
John has already hinted at how Harry’s demeanor at being caught in a compartment with Luna and Neville might be different in the future.
Might there be a connection between the look of Thestrals and Jo’s stand on eating disorders?
Okay, the Thestrals can only be seen by some people. What about noise? Don’t they make any or can those not be heard, either?
Kim said this on November 8, 2009 at 11:10 am
Unless the floo network were to deliver people directly to platform 9 3/4, I think maintaining secrecy would become very difficult, with such a large number of Wizarding families suddenly exiting one room without having entered. Although I’m sure someone could direct them, as the ticket inspector tells students when to go back through the barrier. Still, I’m betting King’s Cross is suspicious enough on September first, without the magical transportation of students’ families.
I’ve also wondered to what degree (if any) wizard governments are involved in Muggle territory wars, though I never caught the significance of “Assyria.”
Wonderful painting by Jenny Dolfen, by the way.
Inky Squirrel said this on November 8, 2009 at 11:23 am
LOVE reallycorking’s Neville – he looks so sweet! Luna is my absolute favorite character of the series!! She’s just so awesome. And I agree with Caroline, the smaller families probably just Side-Along Apparate – after all, most families don’t have seven kids.
hpboy13 said this on November 8, 2009 at 11:39 am
Hi, I’m new to the site but I think its absolutely brilliant, I’ve already read through the previous books and I partucularly like the ‘Something you may not have noticed’ sections because its always draws my attention to something I completly missed. Luna Lovegood is one of my fav characters simply becuase she’s so wonderfuly odd and unique which is a fantastic quality in any person in my opinion. I also love the whole mystery about the thestrals in this chapter and how Harry wonders if he’s seeing things. Keep up the great work, can’t wait til the next chapter is uploaded
Irene said this on November 8, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Luna is such a great character and Evanna Lynch does a great job playing her in the movies. I also like reallycorking’s Neville, it has such a natural quality to it. I’d like to see how reallycorking would draw Luna, since they are two of my favorite characters in the books.
wizardinventor said this on November 8, 2009 at 6:21 pm
To those who have commented on the 9 3/4 transportation issue, it’s a question I’ve wondered about a lot. I’m sure if there were going to be fireplaces, they’d be on the platform. But we’ve talked before about how Side-Along Apparition seems in some places to be an “emergencies-only” kind of thing (except for Dumbledore, ’cause he’s extra cool), so I’m not sure that would be used… maybe. But no matter how most families get there, security seems like it would be a big challenge.
wizardinventor, there is a drawing of Luna by reallycorking on this very page! Third from the top. ;)
John Kearns said this on November 8, 2009 at 8:10 pm
wizardinventor: I agree, Evanna Lynch does an awesome job! She’s one of only three actors I picture when I read the series, the other two being Lucius Malfoy and Dobby.
Also, concerning the means most wizard families get there, I always assumed they took a Portkey to a deserted alleyway or such in London, then walk the remaining way to King’s Cross.
Kim: I like your point on if you could hear a thestral even if you couldn’t see them. I may be wrong, but I don’t think they make any vocal noises in the books (they do in the movies).
Roonil Wazlib said this on November 8, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Roonil Wazlib, I believe JKR also says she pictures Evanna Lynch as Luna. I agree with you on Lucius Malfoy as well. He fits the bill perfectly. I really love Luna’s character. She’s got a lot of hidden depths, and while she seems ditsy on the outside, she’s a real firecracker. Like Neville, she really comes into her own in the final books.
Lizzie said this on November 9, 2009 at 1:45 pm
it’s too bad they cut the entire chapter and luna’s intro to the trio out of the film I wonder how evanna lynch would have done that scene
seekerbillpotter said this on November 10, 2009 at 12:12 am
I must say I love all the art in this chapter!
I think that fact that there are 7 kids makes a difference to how they get to King’s Cross.
Evanna Lynch is a brilliant Luna! No one else could play her. (And I’ve got to stop using words like brilliant in front of my friends.)
Hmmm… no huge debates this chapter.
Mickey said this on November 10, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I find the historical/political implications of the Wizarding World odd too. National anthems are sung at Quidditch events, for example — Muggle national anthems. Think of Ireland’s — A Soldier’s Song, which was written during the Irish Civil War and has absolutely NO relevance to wizards. Same with Britain’s own God Save the Queen — I doubt most of the wizarding world cares much about Muggle royalty. What does national patriotism MEAN to wizards?
And what happens during Muggle wars? The world wars produced an enormous amount of privation for many different nations. Did British, German and Japanese wizards dodge bombing raids? Were they subject to rationing of any sort? If British Muggles couldn’t get hold of bananas or rubber, could wizards? And more interesting, what DON’T wizards know about Muggle politics and history? From the books it appears they know absolutely nothing — despite the fact that the Muggles have done one heckuva job trying to louse up all civilization. If there were a nuclear war, would wizards even NOTICE? And if they would, what are they doing about the possibility?
One of the reasons I’m sorry we never got to see what a Muggle Studies class looks like is that it seems to me that Muggles can do a LOT to affect wizard society without even knowing it exists — especially since so many wizards are half- or muggle-born. Yet we see no indication of this. In Harry’s first year (’91), was there any muggleborn student worried about his Dad or brother stationed in Iraq?
Jennifer said this on November 11, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Jennifer: I remember JKR saying in an interview that Dumbledore defeating Grindelwald in 1945 helped end WWII. So at the least, wizards may have been involved in that war. :-)
Roonil Wazlib said this on November 11, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Jennifer, thanks for taking my thoughts to the next level – very interesting. One thing I would say about your Iraq question is that, until the last book, Rowling wasn’t setting out to depict the stories in any particular year. The only reference to time placement was the cake at Nick’s Deathday party, and that was a reference to the year she wrote the chapter. As it turns out, the timeline places book one in 1991-1992, but she actually wrote most of it before those years even took place.
Plus, Desert Storm was pretty much over before fall of 1991, wasn’t it? And that’s when Harry starts at Hogwarts. ;)
Roonil Wazlib, there are two quotes referencing what you mention. The first was the TLC/Mugglenet interview:
—
“JKR: I’m going to tell you as much as I told someone earlier who asked me. You know Owen who won the competition to interview me? He asked about Grindelwald [pronounced "Grindelvald"]. He said, “Is it coincidence that he died in 1945,” and I said no. It amuses me to make allusions to things that were happening in the Muggle world, so my feeling would be that while there’s a global Muggle war going on, there’s also a global wizarding war going on.
ES: Does he have any connection to –
JKR: I have no comment to make on that subject.
MA: Do they feed each other, the Muggle and wizarding wars?
JKR: Yeah, I think so. Yeah. Mm.”
—
And the second was her “cub reporter” interview, given the same day (the day after the release of HBP):
—
OJ: Thank you. Are you implying that Dumbledore had a hand in ending the Second World War [JKR laughs] by his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald -
JKR: In 1945.
OJ: – in 1945?
JKR: I may well be implying that.
—
One note I’d add is that in the first of these interviews, she also categorically states that Grindelwald is dead, so obviously at least some of her intentions behind his character changed after these interviews as he was alive in the next book, 2 years later. But it’s interesting to see her thought process all the same.
John Kearns said this on November 12, 2009 at 5:42 am
You’re right about the dates, but you know what I mean, I’m sure! :) It made me think about British colonialism as well — there are several wizards in Harry’s year of non-British extraction, like Dean Thomas and the Patils. Before 1947, there was a tradition of British families in India and Africa sending their kids to be educated in Britain (mostly so they wouldn’t catch tropical diseases, which doesn’t seem a problem for wizards but might have had an effect on at least a few Muggleborns). Or were there once competing schools in India for British wizards and Indian wizards, with their undoubtedly different cultures and ways of doing magic?
Given all the stories of Lawrence of Arabia types (he was only the last of a long line of eccentrics), were there any wizards who (like Lockhart claimed to do) travelled the world, lived and worked with wizards of other cultures? There are bits and pieces in the charity books. But I think a story from the point of view of a wizard who traveled with, say, Marco Polo or Christopher Columbus would be interesting.
Jennifer said this on November 12, 2009 at 6:39 am
Many wizards live among Muggles as well, I think, so Muggle wars would effect them, right?
Interesting to wonder if a war would have started with Muggles had Voldemort not been stopped. All the Muggle deaths must have been alarming, and when people start to wonder what happened one thing could lead to another…
Mickey said this on November 12, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I find it remarkable how quickly Luna became a part of Harry’s circle of friends. In the previous books there was only one mention of the surname and Harry didnt know anything about her. She becomes the perfect counter for Hermiones logical and sceptical view of life.
Matthew said this on November 15, 2009 at 4:29 am
About the governments thing, it definitely appears that wizarding countries are not always the same as muggle countries. For example, the lack of an Irish ministry of magic at the Quidditch world cup, with the British ministry of magic there instead, along with the Bulgarian ministry, and the presence of Irish characters like Seamus at Hogwarts, hints that unlike the muggle Republic of Ireland, the wizarding Republic of Ireland did not separate from Britain in 1922. In addition, England is mentioned as losing to Transylvania in the Quidditch world cup, despite the muggle Transylvania being not a country but a historical region of Romania. (Although Charlie is refered to as being in Romania. Hmmm. Maybe the other part of Romania that isn’t in Transylvania is considered ‘Romania’ in the wizarding world; Transylvania and Romania are two separate countries).
! said this on November 15, 2009 at 10:43 am
Inky Squirrel, I’ve always assumed that there was a public Floo grate in Diagon Alley, perhaps in the Leaky Cauldron. Many families would Floo to Diagon Alley and then walk to King’s Cross. However, it would be pretty crowded on 1 September, so anyone who had an alternative means of transport would probably take it.
Grace has Victory said this on November 25, 2009 at 9:50 pm