Luna Lovegood is one of the most eccentric and fascinating characters in Harry Potter's circle of friends. From her insane conspiracy theories to her bizarre wardrobe, it's hard not to notice Luna. J.K. Rowling herself says that Evanna Lynch is the perfect casting choice for this Ravenclaw. Lynch's protuberant eyes and ethereal personality is precisely what readers imagined Luna to be like.
As a part of the Big Seven, Luna's character is monumental in the Potter series as she helps Harry repeatedly through his heroic enterprise. Luna is full of wild ideas and conceptions, though not all of these made it to the silver screen. Luna's adaptation is nearly perfect in the films, but there are still some fun facts left out. Here are 10 things about Luna Lovegood that you won't learn from the movies.
Her Mother's Death Was Gruesome
Audiences learn that Luna can see Thresals because she witnesses her mother's death when she is just nine years old. However, the circumstances behind this scene are gruesome. Luna's mother, Pandora Lovegood, is known to experiment with spells and potions because she, like her daughter, has an active imagination. One day, one of her spells backfires on her which causes her death. Luna tells Harry that she witnessed this spell go badly wrong, ending her mother in a "horrible" manner in front of her. This traumatizing event might explain why Luna's head is so often in the clouds and why she is able to speak about death so casually.
She Is Mentioned In The First Book
Harry and his friends directly met Luna in their fifth year (her fourth), but J.K. Rowling let slip that she actually mentions Luna in the first book. Luna's original name was Lily Moon and during Harry's Sorting Ceremony, the Sorting Hat calls out that name.
The book specifically says, "There weren’t many people left now. ‘Moon’ … ‘Nott’ … ‘Parkinson’ … then a pair of twin girls, ‘Patil’ and ‘Patil’ … then ‘Perks, Sally-Anne’ … and then, at last –‘Potter, Harry!’ "
Rowling confirms that this is an earlier indication of Luna (who apparently is meant to be Harry's age and not younger), but she ultimately scraps the idea of Lily Moon and formally introduces the new and improved Luna Lovegood later in the series.
Luna Recognized Him At Bill And Fleur's Wedding
In the films, Harry decides to show up all nonchalant to Bill and Fleur's wedding at The Burrow despite the fact that Voldemort and his Death Eaters are looking for him. In the books, Harry takes a more cautious approach and disguises himself as a red-haired Weasley relative by using Polyjuice Potion so that none of the guests would know it was him. Luna, however, is the only one who is able to recognize Harry even though his outward appearance looks nothing like him (he doesn't even have his scar). Chalk it up to Luna's keen intuition, but it is a pretty adorable moment when she is able to so easily spot her friend.
She Was Briefly The Quidditch Commentator
Lee Jordan acts as the Quidditch commentator in the first couple of films and throughout much of his time at Hogwarts. Zacharias Smith also has a go at this gig as well as Luna who temporarily replaces him during one of the Quidditch matches. However, Luna tends to comment on things other than the game, much to Professor McGonagall's chagrin.
She talks about the clouds, continuously messes up the player's names and even surmises that the reason they can't hold onto the Quaffle is that the players suffer from "Loser's Lethargy." It's actually this moment that Ron warms up to Luna, who he had previously regarded as a bit absurd.
She Interviewed Harry For 'The Quibbler'
After Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, audiences meet Luna who is forthright in her opinion that Harry is telling the truth about Voldemort. Harry's fifth year is rough with the Daily Prophet and even his schoolmates accusing him and Dumbledore of causing unnecessary panic since they don't believe that Voldemort has returned. Harry finds comfort in Luna, who is also the oddball out, which is possibly why he agrees to an interview by The Quibbler. Luna sets up an interview with her father, who runs the conspiracy theory publication, at the same time that Rita Skeeters sets out to get Harry's story about You-Know-Who's alleged return. It's his interview in The Quibbler that causes a shift in the wizarding world and many people begin to believe Harry's story. This issue of The Quibbler actually sells out and is extremely profitable for Luna and her father.
Luna Tried To Steal Gryffindor's Sword
While Harry, Ron, and Hermione are off hunting Horcruxes during their seventh year, many other their fellow friends are left behind at Hogwarts. This year, Snape has become headmaster, the Death Eaters are their professors, and Umbridge's former Inquisitorial Squad is in full retaliation. It's a delicate situation, but Luna, Ginny, and Neville still try to do their part to help Harry. One such occasion is when the three of them try to steal Godric Gryffindor's sword out of Snape's office. Snape catches them in the act and punishes them by sending them into the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid. Luna also helps in the resurgence of Dumbledore's Army who eventually leads Harry to secretly enter the grounds for the final Battle of Hogwarts.
Ollivander Made A Wand Specifically For Her
Death Eater's kidnap Luna after her father refuses to cease publishing articles pertaining the Harry and the Order of the Phoenix. While in a prison cell at Malfoy Manor, Luna meets Ollivander, the notorious wandmaker.
Olivander undergoes harm and questioning while he is a prisoner here, so Luna's appearance is comforting to him. After they escape the manor, Ollivander personally fashions Luna a brand new wand, which not many witches and wizards can speak to.
Luna Helps Harry Find Ravenclaw's Diadem
In Deathly Hallows, Harry has a hard time locating the last Horcrux. He knows that it will be an item belonging to the Hogwarts founder, Rowena Ravenclaw, but it's Luna who solves the puzzle. She brings Harry to the Ravenclaw common room to show him a replica of Ravenclaw's diadem. In the films, this is when Luna introduces him to Ravenclaw's house ghost, The Gray Lady, who is the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw. Helena Ravenclaw has a bond with Luna which persuades her to open up to Harry about where he might find her mother's long-lost diadem.
She Didn't Marry Neville
Rowling herself admits that she felt the chemistry between these two when writing Deathly Hallows. Unfortunately for fans who ship these two characters, Luna and Neville never really became an item. Luna actually ends up marrying the grandson of Newt Scamander, Rolf Scamander. Like Newt, Rolf and Luna hold careers as Magizoologists, which helps cement this perfect union. The two spend their lives traveling the world looking for exotic (or imaginary) creatures.
Neville eventually marries Hannah Abbott, who makes more than a few appearances in the books.
Harry Named His Daughter After Her
Harry and Ginny pretty much name all of their children after someone they admire. Most of these names come from members of Harry's family that have passed. Luna is one of the few (and somewhat strange) people that Harry decides to name his children after. His daughter's full name is Lily Luna Potter. He and Ginny decide to honor their dear friend in this way because a wizarding world without Luna Lovegood would most certainly be a little less magical.