Xenophilius Lovegood

Xenophilius Lovegood was a wizard, the editor of the wizarding tabloid The Quibbler, and the father of Luna Lovegood. A staunch, if eccentric, supporter of Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter, Xenophilius used his publication to champion their cause during the Second Wizarding War. His primary significance in the story comes when he introduces Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger to the legend of the Deathly Hallows. His character arc is a tragic one, illustrating the immense pressure and desperate measures ordinary people were forced to take under the terror of Lord Voldemort's regime.

Xenophilius was married to Pandora Lovegood, and together they had one daughter, Luna Lovegood. Pandora, who shared his love for experimentation, was killed by one of her own spells that backfired when Luna was nine years old. Xenophilius raised Luna by himself, instilling in her his unique, open-minded worldview and belief in creatures and phenomena most of the wizarding world dismissed, such as the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. As the editor of The Quibbler, Xenophilius had a platform for his unusual beliefs. For years, the magazine was considered a source of amusement and nonsense. However, during the Second Wizarding War, it became a vital tool for dissent. In 1996, after the Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet spent a year discrediting Harry Potter, The Quibbler published Harry's exclusive interview detailing the return of Lord Voldemort, an act of journalistic bravery that sold out the issue and turned the publication into the primary voice of the anti-Voldemort resistance. Xenophilius and Luna attended the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour in the summer of 1997, where he proudly wore the symbol of the Deathly Hallows on a chain around his neck. He continued to publish pro-Potter articles even after the Ministry of Magic fell to the Death Eaters. As a consequence, his daughter Luna was kidnapped from the Hogwarts Express over the Christmas holidays to silence him. Driven to desperation, Xenophilius attempted to trade Harry Potter to the Death Eaters in exchange for Luna's safe return. In January 1998, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione visited him to ask about the strange symbol, he explained its connection to The Tale of the Three Brothers and the Deathly Hallows. However, he had already alerted the Ministry of Magic to their presence. Before Death Eaters could capture the trio, Hermione cleverly engineered their escape by blasting a hole in the Lovegood House, ensuring the responding Death Eaters saw Harry as they Disapparated. This action preserved Xenophilius's cover story, though his home was largely destroyed. Xenophilius was subsequently arrested and imprisoned in Azkaban, where he remained until the end of the war.

Xenophilius Lovegood is described as having shoulder-length, candyfloss-like white hair and being slightly cross-eyed. At Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding, he wore eccentric, egg-yolk-yellow robes. His most notable accessory was a necklace bearing the triangular symbol of the Deathly Hallows. His personality is as eccentric as his appearance. He is an unabashed nonconformist with a fervent belief in creatures and ideas that defy conventional wizarding logic, such as the existence of Blibbering Humdingers and the political maneuverings of Goblins cooking pies for wizards. At his core, however, Xenophilius is a kind and loving father. His entire world revolves around his daughter, Luna, and his desperate betrayal of Harry Potter was motivated solely by the fear of losing her, revealing a man broken by the pressures of a brutal war.

While a fully qualified wizard, Xenophilius's specific magical abilities are not extensively detailed.

• Magical Knowledge: He possessed a deep knowledge of obscure magical lore, most notably being an expert on the legend of the Deathly Hallows.
• Journalism and Publishing: As the editor and publisher of The Quibbler, he was skilled in writing, editing, and operating his own printing press.
• Combat: He did not appear to be a proficient duelist. When Death Eaters Travers and Selwyn arrived at his home, he was quickly Stunned.

• The Quibbler: His self-published magazine, which he wrote, edited, and printed.
• Lovegood House: His cylindrical, rook-shaped home located near the village of Ottery St Catchpole. It was heavily damaged during the Death Eaters' raid.
• Deathly Hallows Pendant: A silver chain bearing the symbol of the Hallows, which he wore to identify himself to other believers.
• Erumpent Horn: Xenophilius owned a large, spiraled horn which he proudly displayed, believing it to be from a Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Hermione Granger correctly identified it as a dangerously explosive Erumpent horn.
• Bust of Rowena Ravenclaw: He kept a bust of the famous witch in his home, upon which sat a replica of her lost diadem.

• Luna Lovegood: Xenophilius's beloved daughter. Their bond is exceptionally close, built on shared eccentricities and deep mutual affection. All of his major actions in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows are driven by his all-consuming need to ensure her safety.
• Pandora Lovegood: His deceased wife. Her death during a magical experiment deeply affected both him and Luna.
• Harry Potter: Xenophilius was a public supporter of Harry, using The Quibbler to give him a voice when no one else would. This allegiance crumbled under duress, leading him to betray Harry in a desperate attempt to save Luna.
• Hermione Granger: Hermione was highly skeptical of Xenophilius's beliefs and his publication. However, she was the one who understood his predicament and saved him from immediate retribution from the Death Eaters by ensuring they knew he had been telling the truth about Harry's presence.

• Xenophilius: The name is derived from two Greek roots: xenos (ξένος), meaning “strange” or “foreign,” and philos (φίλος), meaning “love” or “friend.” Combined, the name means “lover of the strange,” a perfect description of his character and interests.
• Lovegood: A simple English surname that suggests a fundamentally kind and benevolent nature, reflecting his true character beneath the eccentricities and the desperation caused by war.

• In the film adaptation Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Xenophilius Lovegood is portrayed by Welsh actor Rhys Ifans.
• J.K. Rowling has confirmed that Xenophilius was released from Azkaban following Lord Voldemort's defeat and was reunited with his daughter, Luna. (J.K. Rowling interview).
• The film depicts the attack on the Lovegood House with dramatic visual effects, showing the house collapsing in on itself as the trio escapes. (film).