Disclaimer: The universe of Harry Potter is not mine and it never will be.

Pandora found Xenophilius sitting on the double bed staring down at the floor and looking despondent. "Xeno?" she said softly. When her husband looked up at her, she went on, "I'm so sorry. I thought your cousin had changed."

"I don't really blame you for thinking that," Xeno told her. "You did tell me it's best not to think the worst of people. But...well, Octavius made me so miserable as a child that I always found it hard to believe he'd ever change."

His wife nodded in understanding. "On the bright side, he seems to have taken a liking to Luna."

Meanwhile, in the sitting room...

"What kind of job do you have, Cousin Octavius?" asked Luna, swinging her feet back and forth.

"I'm a professional Quodpot player," Octavius replied.

"What's Quodpot?"

"It's a popular game we have in America. The players are supposed to get a ball called the Quod into the pot at the end of the field before it explodes. Whichever team can get it in there earns a point, and a new Quod is sent out."

"What happens if the Quod explodes?"

"Well, whichever player is holding it is out of the game and has to leave the field."

Luna frowned. "I like Quidditch better."

They sat silently for about a minute before the little girl asked, "Why do you hate Daddy?"

"I don't really hate him."

"Then why are you always mean to him?"

Octavius sighed deeply. "Actually...there is a reason. I've never told anyone this, but...I was always jealous of your father."

"Why?"

"He was always quiet and shy as a kid, not to mention weird, but he was so smart. I always thought that if I could only be as smart as he was, then I wouldn't do so badly in school." He paused, then added, "My family would visit Xenophilius' family every summer, and at each visit I was reminded how much smarter he was then me; my mom and dad always liked him best. When I was seven, I flew a broom for the first time and realized I was really, really good at it. Now I had something I could rub in my cousin's face."

Luna looked at him thoughtfully. "I don't think anyone should bully others just 'cause they're jealous. All it does is make everyone feel bad."

"Hmmm," replied Octavius. "You make a good point, kid. Believe it or not, there have been times when I've felt guilty for picking on ol' Philie."

"Why do you call him Philie?"

"Probably because I know he hates it, but mostly it's because I like that nickname better than 'Xeno.'"

"Oh," Luna replied. She was silent for a few seconds before asking, "If Daddy hasn't spoken to you since you were children, then how'd you know he had a wife and daughter?"

"Another cousin of ours had paid him a visit a few years ago, before you were born. They sent me a letter about how your mom and dad had settled down here and were about to have a baby. I figured the next time I came here I could see my younger cousin here and meet his wife and daughter. But I didn't get the chance until...well, now."

Luna nodded. "I think cousins should get along; we're family after all."

Octavius took a moment to let Luna's words sink in before he came to a decision.

"Hey, cuz," Octavius said that evening as Xenophilius was putting some Quibbler articles together, "could I talk to you for a sec?"

"Talk?" repeated Xeno bitterly. "What, do you want to tell me more about what a joke my magazine is or how horrible I am at sports?"

"No, of course not!" his cousin said. "Actually, what I wanted to tell you is this: I owe you an apology for the way I've treated you."

Xeno stared at him in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah. I shouldn't have been so jealous. I had a little chat with your daughter today, and she made me see what a jerk I've been. Told me all about how jealousy doesn't do anyone any good. For a little kid she sure is wise."

"Indeed," agreed Xeno. "Let us have a fresh start...cousin."

"You got it, cousin!" answered Octavius, giving Xeno a big hug.

The next couple of days passed quickly. Pandora told Octavius all about her magical experiments, and Luna introduced him to her cat, telling him lots of funny stories about things Newt often did around the house. When Xenophilius told his cousin more about the articles he published in The Quibbler, Octavius began to realize that maybe the magazine wasn't quite as silly as he'd thought, although some articles still seemed ridiculous to him.

At last the day came when Octavius had to return to America. "We'll miss you," Pandora told him.

"Same here," the large man replied. "It was good to see you, cuz," he added, turning to Xeno.

"Likewise," Xeno said with a smile. Just as Octavius was about to leave, Luna ran down from her bedroom shouting, "Wait! Don't go just yet! I've got something for you!" She handed him a drawing.

"What's this?" he asked.

"It's a picture of you and Daddy standing next to each other on the moon with Moon Frogs hopping all around you."

Octavius teared up a little. "It's beautiful," he said before leaning down to Luna's level and ruffling her blonde hair. "You be good, Luna." He straightened up. "I don't know when we'll see each other again, but I'll try to keep in touch as much as I can. Bye!"

The three Lovegoods watched him go until he Disapparated in the distance. "I never thought I'd say this," Xeno said, "but I'm going to miss him."

"Me too," his wife agreed.

"Wait till I tell Cedric all about him!" Luna cried excitedly. "Mummy, can I borrow some Floo powder?"

"Sweetheart, you're going to see Cedric this weekend, remember? You can tell him about Cousin Octavius then."

"Oh, okay, Mummy," Luna answered before rushing up to the sitting room, where Newt was licking himself. "Come on, Newt, let's play Chase the Gobstones!"

A/N: I did not make up the concept of Quodpot; that sport is mentioned briefly in the HP companion book Quidditch Through the Ages.