Bodyguards

The Dragons - Task One

Hongbin had told him about the dragons almost two weeks ago, but Cedric did not feel prepared in the slightest. He stood in the tent, visibly trembling. Hongbin had brought Cho up for moral support and it had helped but, now that the time had come, he felt sick. He looked over when he felt a hand on his head and saw Hongbin petting his hair, in an effort to calm him. Cedric smiled in thanks- it didn't really help but he appreciated the thought. Hongbin stopped when he realised it was having little to no effect.
"Works on Leo hyung" he muttered and shrugged in apology. Cedric nodded in thanks and took a deep breath when his name was called out.
Krum was next but he wasn't as much a bundle of nerves, at least not visibly. Wonshik saw the shakiness in the Quidditch player's eyes and patted him on the back, keeping him in good spirits. Viktor grinned at the boy before leaving to take care of the dragon. Cedric walked in trembling but holding the golden egg up in success. Hongbin caught him as he fell, taking the egg and leading him over to the healer's tent.
Fleur caught the state of Diggory and winced. It would be that bad. Hakyeon squeezed her hand, making her look over at him in surprise. Hakyeon smiled in response,
"You'll do good." he told her and she smiled back, almost believing him. She took a shaky breath, squeezed Hakyeon's hand one last time and exited the tent.
Wonshik led a limping but victorious Krum to the healer's tent with a muttered,
"Yeah, that's great buddy but let's fix that leg first eh?"
Wonshik was surprised to see Hermione enter the tent.
"You did good" was all she said, but it had Krum beaming and Wonshik, feeling slightly uncomfortable, left the tent just to watch a giggling Cho snuggle carefully with a sleepy but content Diggory.
He blinked when Fleur entered the tent with a tired yet elated grin. She dropped the egg and hugged Hakyeon with cries of "I did it!" and Hakyeon laughed, her happiness and relief becoming infectious. She picked up her egg and cradled it, being led by Hakyeon into the care tent. Hermione and Wonshik carefully led Krum back into the main tent where Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch gave a pep talk and a dry speech and then they were allowed to leave.
Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room later on and walked over to Harry, Ron and Leo who were trying to play a game of exploding snap but Leo hadn't quite gotten the gist and kept losing. She plopped herself on the sofa next to them and Harry looked over,
"How are they all" he asked, meaning the champions. Hermione smiled,
"A bit beaten up but all in good spirits. Your friend Hakyeon seems quite close to Delacour" she looked over at the boy who had reverted to simply watching the game. He looked up at her and smiled.
"That's good" was all he replied and then went back to watching the game. Hermione nodded,
"Well, I'm off to bed" she waved goodbye to the three boys as well as Ariake who waved back from his perch by the door.