It’s amazing that a person as kind and bright as Luna Lovegood only made her first appearance in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Described as ‘Loony Lovegood’ with dirty blonde hair and protuberant eyes, she didn’t get a particularly flattering introduction and many people avoided her, thanks to her odd mannerisms.

However, her personality was as warm as it was weird, and without her Harry and his friends would have often been in a lot of trouble. Here are 12 moments where Luna’s kindness really shone through:

1. In spite of having her father’s magazine insulted by Hermione and being laughed at behind her back by Ginny, Luna kindly carried Ron’s owl off the train when it was time to leave. Harry was so absorbed in his own thoughts he completely forgot about her and called her ‘that Luna girl’ when Ron asked for his things.

2. She was quick to reassure Harry when he saw the Thestrals for the first time. He may not have appreciated it much then, but Luna made him realise he was not alone in seeing strange animals where others could not.

3. Harry had a lot on his plate in the fifth book; many people refused to believe Harry when he said he saw Voldemort come back from the dead. He was painted as an attention-seeking liar; he was often angry and upset. Luna walked straight up to him and said: ‘I believe He Who Must Not Be Named is back and I believe you fought him and escaped from him.’ In front of everyone.

4. Ron was so nervous about playing as Keeper for Gryffindor that he looked at his cereal as if he wanted to drown in it. Ravenclaw Luna wished him good luck, while showing her support in the shape of a huge Gryffindor lion hat. Supportive and a fashion statement.

5. In the Department of Mysteries, it was Luna who saved Ginny and Ron from Death Eaters using the Reductor Curse. Ginny’s ankle was broken and Ron had been hit by a spell that made him a little funny in the head. Luna kept hers, though, and got all three of them out alive.

6. Harry found Luna putting up notices asking people to return her lost possessions. She asked him why he was not at the feast and when he explained he didn’t feel like it, she immediately understood and said exactly the right things to make him feel better, lessening the ‘terrible weight in his stomach’.

7. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when Hermione was upset about Ron and Lavender, it was Luna who found her in the bathroom and offered her comfort and support.

8. At Dumbledore’s funeral, she was the one who helped a devastated Neville into his chair. A simple act that cemented their friendship.

9. It was Luna who carefully tended to Mr Ollivander in the prison cell where they were trapped in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She kept everyone together, stayed positive and upbeat and showed strength of character that was extraordinary. Ollivander was so grateful he sent her a new wand.

10. When Dobby died, Luna reached out and closed his eyes. It was a kind and gentle thing to do, showing such respect for the house elf who saved them all. ‘There,’ she said softly. ‘Now he could be sleeping.’ If that moment didn’t make you cry, nothing will…

11. Luna put sea lavender in a jam jar on Dobby’s grave. In a world where house-elves are often overlooked, it was a telling kindness.

12. Luna appeared beside Harry at the end, when Voldemort was dead, as he sat on a bench, exhausted and drained. She looked at him and knew exactly what he needed. She distracted everyone so he could slip on his cloak and disappear somewhere private. It was an act of quiet kindness and summed up exactly why she is such a beloved character.