Three Reasons Why Neville and Luna Make Sense as a Couple
There’s Albumin (Albus/Minerva). There’s Dramione (Draco/Hermione). There’s even Snily (Snape/Lily). But out of all of the non-canon OTPs, Neville and Luna are the couple that makes the most sense to me.
Much to my dismay, JKR herself shot down any potential for our two favorite outsiders. In the “Rumours” section of her official website, she said that “I see Neville and Luna as very different kinds of people and while they share a certain isolation within Hogwarts, I don’t think that’s enough to foster true love.” You’re telling me that the extreme differences between Ron and Hermione lead to an adorable opposites-attract relationship but that “Neville would always find Luna’s wilder flights of fancy alarming”? With all due respect, ma’am, agree to disagree. Here’s why:
1. They experienced some of the hardest moments of their lives together.
I know that Hannah Abbott – whom we’re told ends up marrying Neville – was just a minor character (mostly a name to toss around, if you ask me), but she was in Dumbledore’s Army. Regardless, we still know little about her. I’m not saying that people who were acquainted in wizard high school can’t grow up, remeet, and consequently fall in love, but if you ask me, it’s pretty unlikely (plus, it doesn’t support my argument). Not only was Luna a part of Dumbledore’s Army, but she also fought along with – you guessed it – Neville in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Luna was there when Neville saw the woman who tortured his parents for the first time.
Hannah may have been mentioned in passing during the Battle of Hogwarts as well, but Luna was literally dueling Bellatrix – a personal vendetta, perhaps? Was she fighting on behalf of the man she loved? She knew to come to Hogwarts in the first place because Neville had summoned her. And Rolf Scamander? We didn’t even know about him until JKR told us that he and Luna had wed.
2. They related to each other on a level that none of the other characters did.
Yes, Luna’s mom died and Neville’s parents had been tortured before our star-crossed lovers met, but I can just imagine the deep, personal conversations that they were able to have about their shared experiences. They both faced hardship and loss very early on. We know that they could see Thestrals, which seemed fairly uncommon among the students.
Not only this, but both were also seen as outsiders among their peers. Neville was the fumbling, awkward disappointment. Luna was the crazy, quirky hippie. Despite their differing personalities, their meeting must’ve been the first time that each knew that someone understood them. It wasn’t just a sense of pity either – they knew the trials the other faced because they had been through similar situations.
3. Opposites do attract.
The truth is that opposites do attract. I can see it: If Luna would get overexcited, Neville would be able to ground her. If Neville would lack self-confidence, Luna could point out what made him unique and lovable. They had the potential to build each other up, filling in the weaknesses of the other with their own strengths. They balanced one another out.
Their beliefs may be different – after all, not many believe in Crumple-Horned Snorkacks – but fundamentally, their ideals were the same. They both knew that what Voldemort sought was wrong and that all people deserved a chance. Despite their own doubts and confusion, they fought for what was right together.
Good news, shipmates: Not all hope is lost! In later interviews, we learn that, as time passed and she watched her characters mature, Rowling started to “feel a bit of a pull” between the unlikely pair. That – along with Neville’s admission of love in the movies – is as good as canon for me. And I’m only a little bit biased.
If you’re worried about Hannah Abbott and Rolf Scamander’s fates, I’m sure that they’d make a lovely couple of their own…
As for me, I’ll always be Team Neville/Luna.
