===April 15 1995===
Ludo stands at the edge of the Quidditch pitch. The pitch is covered in knee-high hedges. Victor, Fleur, and Cedric step up to him. "Where are the Potters?" Ludo asks.
"They're coming." Cedric says.
"Pregnancy has slowed Hermione down." Fleur says.
"There they are." Victor says. They all turn and see Harry helping a very pregnant Hermione to the field.
"I'm sorry for holding you up." Hermione says. "I swear, I have to pee every 15 minutes."
"You look ready to pop." Fleur says.
"I still have 10 more weeks if all goes well." Hermione says.
"You think you'll make it?" Victor asks.
"I hope to make it past the finals if not full term." Hermione says.
"I couldn't imagine doing finals pregnant." Fleur shudders.
"Can we get onto why I asked you all to come here today?" Ludo asks. All the champions nod. "As you can clearly see, hedges have been planted all through the Quidditch pitch. In a little over a month, these hedges will be over 12 feet high, creating a massive labyrinth. We will be filling this labyrinth with pitfalls and dangerous creatures."
"Your final task will be to navigate this labyrinth. Your goal will be to reach the center of the labyrinth. That is where the Goblet of Fire will be sitting. The first champion to touch the Goblet will be declared the winner. Any questions?"
"If the winner is whoever touches the Goblet first, what is the purpose of the points we've accumulated thus far?" Hermione asks.
"Ah yes, I forgot to mention that. You will be allowed to start the labyrinth based on your points. The champion with the most points will enter first, then after an appropriate delay the next and so on." Ludo answers.
"What if we get into a situation we can't handle or are injured to the point we can't continue?" Cedric asks.
"Simply shoot red sparks into the air. You'll forfeit and be pulled out to safety." Ludo replies. Once it's obvious that nobody has any other questions he speaks again. "I'll see you on May 20th."
===April 25 1995===
Harry and Hermione enter their Ancient Runes class only to see Malachi sitting at the desk instead of Cheshire. Seeing that no other students are in the classroom they approach him. "Malachi, what are you doing here?" Harry asks.
"Please take your seats, I'll fill everyone in at once." Malachi answers in an authoritative voice. They shrug and take their seats. Once all the other students have arrived Malachi stands up. "Good morning students my name is Malachi Meris, I will be your substitute teacher for the rest of the year. I have the same certification in Ancient Runes that Cheshire does. I however have studied the practical applications of Runes, where Cheshire has studied their history."
"Practical applications?" A student asks.
"Please raise your hand next time you have a question, Miss Patil." Malachi says. "As for practical applications, try and leave the room."
Padme, obviously singled out by her comment, grabs her stuff and goes to leave. Once she gets to the door she sees a large glowing rune. She goes to grab the door but finds her hand passes through it, so she tries to walk through it and is stopped.
"As you can see before you arrived I set up runes that would activate after a certain number of people passed through the door." Malachi says. "This is just one example of practical applications." Padme turns around and raises her hand. "Yes, Miss Patil?"
"Two questions for you, Professor. First, will you be teaching us practical applications of Runes?" Padme asks.
"That is not in the standard curriculum, but I could arrange to tutor you if you have free time." Malachi answers.
"Only if other students want to do it with me. I'd hate to use up your free time." Padme says.
"I appreciate that. What was your second question?" Malachi asks.
"I was wondering if you knew how Cheshire was doing." Padme replies.
"She is doing great, we have a beautiful baby boy named Magnus Meris." Malachi responds then grins almost as big as his wife when he sees the students' faces. "Oh, I guess I should have mentioned she's my wife first."
===May 6 1995===
Harry and Hermione are snuggled together near the fireplace in the common room when Dobby appears. "Master, Mistress. Dobby needs to tell you something."
"What is it, Dobby?" Harry asks.
"Dobby doesn't think Dobby can handle two babies alone."
"So we need to find another elf to help you?" Hermione asks, already guessing where this is going.
"Dobby has suggestion."
"Your friend Winky?" Harry asks.
Dobby nods. "Would you meet her?"
"Of course." Hermione says.
Dobby vanishes and reappears with a female elf dressed in a clean sack that had been modified to look more like a dress. "Good morning." Winky says quietly.
"Hello, my name is Harry, and this is my wife Hermione."
"Dobby speaks highly of you." Winky says.
Harry nods. "Tell us about yourself."
"I was a family elf. I raised the man who released me." Winky says, sadness obvious in her voice.
"Why did he release you?" Hermione asks.
"We were someplace with lots of people when suddenly there were a lot of explosions." Winky says. "Master dropped his wand, I grabbed it, I saved him, but he let me go. Elves are forbidden to hold wands."
"If that's the case then we'd be happy to have you." Hermione says.
"Assuming you'd protect our children like you would your previous master." Harry says.
"Yes, I would." Winky says.
"I have terms: pay, uniform, and time off." Hermione says.
"Time off and uniform." Winky says. "I want to be family, you don't pay family."
Hermione sighs. "Fine, it's better than nothing! I swear I'll never figure out you house elves!"
===May 20 1995===
The day of the final task has come. Its midday and Harry is standing with the other champions next to the labyrinth. Massive stands are set up around the pitch. High In the stands Luna and Ginny help Hermione to her spot next to Dumbledore and the rest of the judges. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic sits with them.
"Missus Potter, allow me to make your chair more comfortable." Dumbledore says as he pulls out his wand and does just that.
Hermione sits down. "Thank you."
"Are you ready for this?" Dumbledore asks her.
"Pomphrey gave me a low dose calming draught so I don't get too excited." Hermione responds. "So I believe so. You?"
"I am." Dumbledore says.
"Then let the final task begin." Hermione says as she pulls out a vial and drinks it.
"I couldn't have said it better myself." Ludo says.
A gong sounds and Harry enters the maze. Quickly getting lost in the twists and turns. He makes quick work of any creatures that confront him using his sword to destroy them. He hears a series of gongs as he traverses the maze. 'Is everything in place?' Harry sends to Hermione.
'Yes, I can see the entire maze from here.' Hermione sends back. 'Fleur just got injured, watch for sparks to your right.'
Harry stops and looks to his right. Sure enough red sparks are seen. 'One innocent out of the way.'
'You're almost to the spot where all the paths meet.' Hermione says.
'Anyone ahead of me?' Harry asks.
'No, but your path was the longest so they're close.' Hermione says.
Harry arrives in a large area where all the other paths merge and walks out intothe open looking around. . 'HARRY! BEHIND YOU!' Hermione warns.
Harry quickly turns, his sword ready to block. Viktor comes around the bend and fires a spell at Harry. Harry attempts to deflect the spell with his sword but the spell knocks the sword out of his hand. With his wand in his left hand, Harry shouts. "Expelliarmus!" The spell knocks Viktor's wand from his hand.
"Stupefy!" Cedric shouts from another path. The spell hits Viktor stunning the Bulgarian. Cedric grins as he looks up at Harry. "Shall we?"
Harry nods and the two of them continue through the maze.
"With Krum down that leaves the two champions from Hogwarts. Potter and Diggory!" Ludo announces as the judges watch the action. The Hogwarts students cheer at this information. "As they approach the final turn they enter the blind spot of the maze."
The crowd is utterly silent as they wait to hear what happens next. After what seems forever Ludo speaks again. "And here they come out of the blind spot Potter and Diggory are neck and neck. Wait! It looks like Potter's falling behind, yes, Potter has fallen behind. Diggory is almost to the Goblet. Potter has his wand out, he tripped Diggory!" The crowd gasps. "That's gotta hurt! Potter passes Diggory and grabs the Goblet! That's it…" Ludo goes silent. "Where'd Potter go? He's vanished!"
The judges, except for Dumbledore, all rush down to the maze. Dumbledore calmly helps Hermione down to the maze as the other judges quickly clear the monsters and traps. Not long after that, the judges pull Cedric and Viktor out of the name, reviving Viktor as they do. Then they gather along with Dumbledore, Hermione and Fleur.
"It appears that someone has made the Goblet of Fire into a portkey." Karkaroff says. "If anyone knows anything about this I demand you tell us now!"
"Mister Diggory?" Ludo says, "You were the closest to Potter when he touched the Goblet."
"Actually I am Harry Potter. Cedric and I swapped in the blind spot thanks to some polyjuice potion." He says as Hermione hands him a flask, he drinks it quickly returning his true form.
"Wait! What?" Ludo asks.
"There's a lot to explain, but we don't have the time right now." Hermione says.
"Already?" Harry asks.
Hermione nods. Harry takes her hand. "While we're gone grab Professor Moody and put him in custody, he's not who he says he is." Dumbledore says as he takes Hermione's other hand. "Let's do this Missus Potter."