Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunchback of Notre Dame or anything to do with it. However, I do own Diamanta Devereux, her father, Oliver, Cecile Devereux, Madame Doreen, and Judge Thomas Gautier.

Note: No, the story isn't finished. I, too, am a Clopin fan and refuse to finish the story with such a terrible ending as I have in this piece of it. I don't know how many chapters there will be, but there'll be enough for the story to make all Clopin fans fulfilled.

Chapter #3

"You live here?" Diamanta said with her eyes full of amazement. From the dark, damp tunnel of sewage she had suddenly entered a whole new world of a bright, colorful cavern bustling with life. She didn't receive an answer, for Clopin, who now saw her in full light, gaped in horror.

"Child, what has happened to you?" he exclaimed after taking notice to the several bruises and black eye she displayed. Diamanta immediately lowered her eyes, trying to push all the painful memories aside. Clopin knelt down and lifted her chin up with his index finger, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Who did this to you?" Diamanta pulled away while murmuring something about scratching herself on thorns. "Thorns cannot hurt you like that," Clopin said. "Who did this to you?" Diamanta looked at him with tearful eyes.

"Monsieur, all I ask for is a place to sleep tonight. I do not wish to bother others with my story," Diamanta said quietly. Clopin sighed.

"It is alright if you wouldn't like to tell me. In the meantime, let us find a place for you to sleep. Stay here." Clopin knocked on the door of a large nearby wagon. It was painted a pale blue which reminded her or her mother; innocent and almost angelic. A young woman with wavy raven hair and the most beautiful green eyes Diamanta had ever seen poked her head out of the door.

"What brings you here, Clopin?" she asked.

"I was just dropping by to see the most beautiful woman in Paris. Sometimes I wonder why someone hasn't swept you off your feet," Clopin said with a charming smile. She rolled her eyes.

"What do I need to do this time? I'm not helping you look for your hand puppet, if that's what it is."

"Ma chere fille, it is nothing like that!"

"Ma chere fille? So now you address me like you do children? Am I a child to you, Clopin?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You certainly pouted like one when I asked you to retrieve Puppet from that mud hole," Clopin murmured. He suddenly regretted saying that, for the young woman shut the small door firmly in his face. "Women!" he exclaimed as he threw his arms up in frustration. "They can never take criticism!" Diamanta, who watched the whole thing from afar, shrugged.

"When you're married I suppose wives grow bitter," she said, trying to make sense of it. Clopin laughed.

"Oh, we're not married, we're just old friends," he said as he knocked on the door again.

"What do you want, Clopin?"

"I need you to take care of someone for tonight," he said.

"I'm not taking care of that puppet. That thing has caused me enough frustration already." Clopin pulled out his hand puppet in the blink of an eye.

"See how she treats me, Clopin?" it screeched. "First she doesn't want to save me from the depths of a mud hole, now she thinks of me as a bothersome creature!" This made her smile.

"Silence yourself, Puppet! All I want to do is ask her to take care of a little girl for the night until I can find her a wagon of her own."

"Of course I'll take care of a child. Where is she?" she said kindly. Clopin beckoned Diamanta to come to the wagon. The young woman tried not to stare at Diamanta's bruises and smiled warmly. "I am Esmeralda. What's your name?"

"Diamanta Devereux," she replied. Esmeralda's smile faded. She gave Clopin a look that clearly stated, "What is wrong with you?"

"She stumbled upon the Court of Miracles bruised and in pain. Let her sleep with you for the night," Clopin said gently. Esmeralda took a glance at Diamanta's beaten face and forced a smile.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Come in, Diamanta!" Esmeralda said as she pulled the child into the wagon. "Welcome to your new home for tonight."