Disclaimer: As always, I do not own anything you recognize.

"Hi, sweetie," said Pandora one summer evening as she walked into Luna's bedroom. "What's that you're drawing?"

"It's me, you, and Daddy as Crumple-Horned Snorkacks," replied Luna.

"That's really nice. Why don't you come outside for a bit? Mummy has something she'd like to show you."

At this Luna jumped off her bed excitedly. "Oooooh! What is it?!"

"It's a surprise," her mother told her. With that they made their way down the stairs and stepped outside, where Pandora led the six-year-old to a dense wooded area.

"Now," whispered Pandora, "we must be very quiet. They don't like a lot of noise."

"What doesn't - ?"

"Shhhh!"

They waited in silence for several minutes. Then Luna spotted a bright yellow speck of light in the distance, followed closely by a bright red one, then a pink one. Before long mother and daughter were surrounded by at least thirty brightly colored specks of light.

"What are they?" Luna breathed.

"They're called Lumiwigs," Pandora explained. "Tiny birds that light up in the dark. Your father showed some to me shortly before you were born."

"They're really pretty," whispered Luna. They continued to watch the creatures for a few minutes more before they went back inside the Rook.

"Daddy, I know what article you can write for next month's Quibbler," said Luna the next morning at breakfast.

"Do you now?" asked Xenophilius interestedly. "What is it, moonbeam?"

"Lumiwigs. Mummy took me to see some last night and she told me you once showed her some a long time ago."

"Hmmm, you may be on to something, moonbeam."

Later that morning, just as Xeno was about to start writing his article, a Great Grey owl he didn't recognize came swooping in through the window and landed right on top of the printing press, carrying a letter in its beak.

Now who could this be? the wizard thought as he tore open the envelope. He then took out the letter and read the first couple of lines - and gasped in horror! "Oh no," he said hoarsely, sinking into his chair, "no, no, no!"

"What's wrong, Daddy?" asked Luna, rushing to his side.

"Luna, go and get your mother," Xeno told her.

"But why - ?"

"GO!" her father shouted. The six-year-old girl rushed off, returning seconds later with Pandora. "Look!" Xeno said in a trembling voice before his wife could say anything; he held the letter out to her, his hand shaking.

"'Dear Philie,'" Pandora read; Luna burst into giggles. Her father shot her a warning look before motioning for Pandora to read on. "'Long time no see. Guess what - I've just come to Britain on a little vacation, so how about I spend a few days at your place? We've got so much catching up to do! I look forward to meeting your family, especially your little daughter! See you tomorrow around noon, your favorite cousin, Octavius.'"

Luna frowned at Xeno. "I don't understand," she said. "Why are you so upset about this?"

"I would rather not talk about it."

"Come on, you can tell me!" The little girl proceeded to climb onto her father's lap and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Xeno sighed as his daughter stared at him expectantly with her wide, protuberant eyes. "That letter was from my cousin from America, Octavius Westfield. I was sincerely hoping I would never have to hear from him again."

"Why?"

But Xeno couldn't bring himself to elaborate; the memories were simply too painful. Pandora stepped in: "Your father has a bit of...history with his cousin, sweetheart. Apparently from what he's told me, Octavius bullied him a lot."

"It was ten times worse than the bullying I had to endure from my schoolmates as a child," added Xeno, tears welling in his eyes as he recalled the horrible memories. "And now he's coming here. Here!" At this point he broke down completely, his wife and daughter hugging him tightly.

"You know, Xeno," Pandora said, climbing into bed with her husband, "there's a chance your cousin may have changed for the better."

"What makes you say that?"

"He's had plenty of time to think about how horribly he treated you. I like to think people can change if given the chance."

Xeno just sighed. "I wish I could believe that, Dora. I cannot stand the idea of Octavius tormenting me all over again."

"I understand how you feel," Pandora told him, putting a comforting arm around her husband. "Still, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that he's turned over a new leaf just yet."

Xeno nodded to show he would think about it, but it took him hours to fall asleep.

At two minutes to noon the following day, Xenophilius anxiously paced around the sitting room while Luna sat on the sofa brushing Newt's fur and Pandora was in the kitchen making Gurdyroot tea. Finally there was a knock at the door; Pandora opened it to find a burly man standing there. He had short, wavy strawberry-blond hair, a bit of stubble on his chin, and bright blue eyes, and he was carrying two bulging bags in his hands.

"Hello there," said Pandora. "You must be Cousin Octavius. I'm Xeno's wife, Pandora."

"Hiya! Good to meet you!" Octavius replied in a booming voice, following the witch up the stairs. As soon as he saw Xeno, he exclaimed, "Well, if it isn't my little cousin!"

"Hello, Octavius," said Xeno rather stiffly, scowling. Octavius then spotted Luna, who said brightly, "Hello!"

"Is this your daughter?!" the large wizard cried before picking up Luna and swinging her around. "She's so cute!" he said over the little girl's squeals and giggles.

"Yes, that's our Luna," said Pandora. "She's six." Octavius put Luna down and reached into one of his bags and pulled out a little packet of Jelly Slugs. "Picked these up on the way here," he said, handing it to Luna. "Figured you might like a little treat."

"Ooooh, thank you!" said Luna happily.

Pandora went down to the kitchen and came up with the tea she'd made. "May I offer you some tea?" she asked, placing the tray on the coffee table.

"Sure," replied Octavius. He took a sip and then made a face. "Uh, what kind of tea is this?"

"It's Gurdyroot tea," Pandora told him. "Xeno and I make it ourselves."

"Somehow I'm not surprised," Octavius said. "Philie here never could cook, let alone make tea."

"Stop calling me that!" snapped Xeno. "You know full well I hate being called that! And for your information, Gurdyroot tea happens to be one of my specialties."

"Sure it is," chuckled Octavius. "So what have you been doing with your life besides making this disaster you call tea?"

"I am the proud editor of a magazine called The Quibbler," replied Xeno, handing his cousin a copy. "It contains important and informative stories the public needs to know, and it is an excellent read for anyone who is open-minded enough to consider these stories."

Octavius quickly flipped through the magazine. "Seems more like some goofy rag to me. I mean, really - Crumple-Horned Snorkacks? Blibbering Humdingers? Those things don't exist!"

"Oh yes they do!" shouted Xeno. "There have been plenty of sightings of these creatures!" He jumped to his feet. "It's obvious you haven't changed at all! And I will thank you not to call my magazine a rag!" He stomped up the stairs to his bedroom; Octavius shrugged and went down to the kitchen looking for something to wash away the taste of Gurdyroot tea.

"He's not very nice, is he?" Luna said to Pandora. "No wonder Daddy doesn't like him."

Pandora sighed. "I really hoped he'd changed. I suppose I was mistaken."

"Still, he did give me these yummy Jelly Slugs," said Luna, popping one into her mouth.

"That's true..."

TO BE CONTINUED