Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

We're here! We've come to the third task. :)

"What news have you learned about Hilibert, Frodo?" Saradoc asked Frodo, as they neared the fifth floor. "I know he's spoken to you, as well as Everhart."

"How do you know that?" Frodo asked in return.

Saradoc pulled out a folded letter. "This was addressed to me just this morning. Hilibert wishes to speak with you in private, sometime after the third task. He wants to know what's going on and where Everhart has been hiding around Hogwarts."

Frodo unfolded the letter. It was crinkled until he smoothed out the parchment. Had it really been a few weeks since the letter was received by his uncle?

June 12th, 1995 (Hogwarts' Timeline)

Dear Saradoc,

I know it's been a while since we last spoke. You must hear me out, before you think of disposing this letter or putting it in the fireplace. I'm afraid things are looking bad at Hogwarts.

As you know, Frodo has been selected by the Goblet of Fire as the fifth champion in the Triwizard Tournament. I could hardly believe it myself, but it is no coincidence. Coming out of the Hobbit Quidditch World Cup has stirred things up for most hobbits. Truly, I commend the authors and authoresses for keeping the future secret. But I fear that secret may not last as long as we suppose.

Frodo survived the first task well at hand. He's doing fine, but was a little shaken up over facing the dragon. But Bilbo has faced dragons before, so he must know how to defeat them, if at best they come around again.

To add, with the events at the Yule Ball, Frodo has done something a hobbit thirty years ago has done, and with Bilbo before him: Frodo has asked Aria to the Yule Ball as his date. There's a law against hobbits and authors commingling in that fashion. We're not the only ones who think this is against the rules. If the authors and authoresses catch them in time, this act can be prevented. But I fear they already have. If Frodo tries anything during the summer, it will be the last straw and he will have to go the Authors' Campus for a trial.

I know it goes against mandate, but it is important that Frodo and Aria avoid getting themselves caught up in this mix. They are friends after all. I still would advise caution.

The second task proved just as daunting for our young Frodo. He swam valiantly and pulled Sam out of the water as promised. He did not take first place, but third. Still, what can you expect? It's unusual for a hobbit, especially Frodo, to end up in any place, if the hobbit reaches that far in the tournament.

As for what I know now, from what Frodo's told me in his letters, the third task is at most the far dangerous task yet. I do hope there's something we can do to help him. He needed to reach the cup in time to win the tournament… unless Harry gets to the cup first, then we cannot argue.

I will send more details when I can. Just know that the security will be high around the maze. Hope to hear from you or Frodo soon.

Best wishes,

Hilibert Blodwen

P.S. I'm cheering for Frodo, in hopes that he makes it out of the tournament alive and well.

"Did you hear from Hilibert yet, Frodo?" Saradoc pressed his nephew.

Frodo looked up, surprise taking over his thoughts. He'd just finished rereading the letter, wondering yet… did he send Hilibert a reply all day? No. He didn't. He was too focused on the third task and how to counter what sorts of creatures he would find in the maze. Maybe he should have done so and written Hilibert a letter. Maybe he could…

"Frodo!" a familiar voice spoke. Frodo peered over his shoulder. It was Hilibert's voice. Frodo smiled, rushing up to his old Introductory course teacher.

"Hiilibert. You've come!" Frodo said, joyously.

"Well, I figured you might answer my letter in person," Hilibert said. "How are you?"

"Waiting for the third task to begin," Frodo answered.

"That's a big step." Hilibert sighed. "I wish you luck, Frodo."

"Where's Everhart?" Saradoc asked Hilibert. "Did he not come with you?"

"He's hiding somewhere," Hilibert answered. "I doubt the navigator will return until he's had his fill at Hogsmeade. The last I've seen him, he's had his fill of butterbeer."

"Typical," Saradoc said.

"But," Hilibert spoke to Frodo, "I came in the effort of making sure that there wouldn't be a fake cup hidden somewhere in the maze. There's been rumors about a second Triwizard cup. I've come to add to the security of the maze."

"Sounds alright with me," Frodo said.

"I thought you'd agree," Hilibert said.

Esmeralda walked up to the three hobbits. "The end-of-term feast is about to start. I suggest we get moving."

"Yes. You're quite right," Hilibert said, shaking Frodo's hand. "I'll meet you at the maze then."

"Yes," Frodo said, watching his old Introductory professor head down the corridor.

"Shall we?" Saradoc said, taking Esmeralda's arm.

Frodo followed his aunt and uncle downstairs, back to the Great Hall. Indeed, the sun had set and everyone was seated, waiting for food. Frodo found his usual place next to Aria, while Saradoc and Esmeralda sat between them. Did they expect Frodo would be separated from his authoress friend? Maybe they did. He didn't want to get into trouble with the Head Authors and Authoresses. Still… he put the thoughts aside as he ate whatever food he felt like eating, but it was hard.

He wanted to do good with the third task, but what would he face in the maze? What sort of creatures did the game makers plant inside the maze? Was there any chance he would see his friends and family again, after the task was over and the tournament done with. He didn't know…

"Now." Dumbledore spoke to the assembly. Frodo realized that everyone had ate dinner, but then so did he. "In five minutes' time, I will ask everyone to head down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task in the Triwizard Tournament. Champions, Mr. Bagman will escort you to the stadium now."

"Good luck, Frodo," Esmeralda said, as Frodo got up from the bench.

"Good luck—" Aria was cut off by Esmeralda, who whispered sharply in her ear. Frodo nearly defended his authoress when Mr. Bagman called to him. He had no choice, but he certainly wished there was a way for his aunt and uncle to see reason. Even Hilibert needed to learn that it was okay for Frodo to be with whoever he wanted. But then… maybe he was second guessing himself.

Frodo hardly said two words as he, Harry, Viktor, Fleur and Cedric followed Mr. Bagman down the corridors and through the tunnel. He nearly kept silent until Harry and Mr. Bagman spoke to him.

"You feeling alright, Frodo?" Mr. Bagman asked him.

"I'm… working on it," Frodo admitted truthfully.

"Well, don't you worry." Bagman told him. "Once the tournament is over, we'll return to our normal lives."

"Right," Frodo said, grinning slightly. Was this really part of his life now? No. He really needed to get the authors and authoresses to see reason. First, they avoided telling him the events in Harry's life (which he understood), but then debunking his chance of being close friends with his authoress… maybe he was asking too much of himself.

He looked around. The champions were present. Aria was in the stands with her fellow authoresses, cheering him on. Sam, Merry and Pippin were in the middle of the stands, also cheering him on. Wait. What was he supposed to do again?

"The cup is hidden in the maze," Bagman said. "The champion who finds the cup first will be our winner. Mr. Harry Potter and Mr. Cedric Diggory are tied for first. Followed by Mr. Frodo Baggins, then Mr. Viktor Krum and Miss Fleur Delacour last. At the sound of my whistle, the champions will enter the maze."

Frodo waited for the whistle, moments after Harry and Cedric vanished inside the maze. He wanted to help them, but then the hedges closed the way in. Frodo looked around again. There were three more openings. Where was he supposed to go?

"Here Mr. Baggins," Bagman said, showing him the right path.

Frodo stared down the path. There was light fog in the air ahead and… the whistle blew. He charged off down the path. He wanted to use his wand, but… no. Instead he closed his fist, just seconds after watching the maze close up behind him. He was alone amongst the towering green walls. He concentrated… there. He cast a ball of white light into the air, just a few feet above his head. He could do this.

"Go!" He told the ball of light. The light tore down the path. Well, there was no sense in hanging around, waiting for something to happen. He charged forward. The light turned a path, right as the whistle blew again. Krum would be following him now. He had to hurry… and he ran into a pesky black furred niffler.

Great. How was he to get past the niffler now?

"You're not so scary," Frodo told the pesky niffler. The niffler lunged away with his gold. So far, so… good. A shell-like creature charged towards him. He recognized the creature. It was a blast-ended skrewt, with a fiery tail about ready to shoot flames at him. What was the spell? He remembered, blasting the spell at the creature. The effect worked. The skrewt turned to dust.

He didn't mean to kill it, but no… it was part of the maze. Did the other creatures have that effect? He looked up. He could hear Harry and Cedric in a confrontation with Krum. He had to reach Harry and Cedric, but wait… where was he? He took a few turns down the hedge. He could see a sphinx – a lion with a woman's head, or so he read up in the creatures' textbook – but he was still further away from the creature.

Mostly like a hedge or two away from the sight.

Wait… where was he in the maze? And how was he to reach… there was a faint blue glow. His gaze averted to the glow. The shiny ball of light was still leading the way. But first he needed to get past some salamanders. Huge, fiery lizard-like creatures with a rapid way of causing pain. Oh great. How was he to get past these creatures? He needed a plan.

And he had one.

Frodo collapsed on the ground, right as the salamanders moved towards him. He cast one spell after another using hand magic, but… these creatures weren't giving up. He had one more option: use his wand to cast the spells. He grabbed his wand, about ready to attack them, but… wait. They were moving out of the way as he stood up.

"Lumos," Frodo said, his wand's tip alight with a blue glow. He couldn't believe it. The creatures were moving out of the way for him. Why? Why would they do this? And yet, he pressed on, straight for the cup. He could still hear Harry and Cedric's voices in the near distance. But it didn't matter. The cup was his now. He could… take it. Only to be plummeted in the air. He held on, unsure what would happen.

Then the spell wore off. He was on the ground again, between a graveyard and a tan sandy beach. He looked around. There was a cave, too. This made no sense. He was no longer in the Quiddtich stadium. Where was he then? And why did this place look so familiar to him? There was only one way to find out, one way that he feared would come to pass: explore the area. But even then, Frodo had no idea then what was about to transpire.

He just hoped that Harry and Cedric were okay… wherever they were now. Even then, he himself wondered if he was going to all right, but he couldn't be sure of that answer until it was too late to turn back.