Chapter Eighteen

Sitting on the cold floor of the cathedral, Hermione allowed her tears to fall as she hugged Djali close to her. The goat seemed to accept that she needed that moment before nudging her gently with his nose. Smiling gently at him, Hermione patted his head before moving to sit up properly. Just then, she heard a loud bang behind her.

"You! Bell ringer! What are you doing down here? Haven't you caused enough trouble already?"

Hermione watched as Quasimodo stood up and raced off up a flight of stone steps. Pointedly ignoring the fallen over candle holder, Hermione chased after him.

"Wait! I want to talk to you!"

Hermione sprinted up the steps and tried to follow him. She was more than a fair few steps behind him but she was able to keep up. Watching as he disappeared through one door, Hermione picked up the pace and she could have sworn she heard him talking to someone.

"There you are. I was afraid I'd lost you." Quasimodo stuttered a bit before looking all nervous.

"Yes. Um, well, I uh, I have chores to do. It was, uh, nice... seeing you... again. Oh!"

"No, wait!"

Hermione reached out just as he disappeared up some wooden steps. Djali was behind her but she knew that he would follow. Dashing up the steps, she called out to Quasimodo.

"I'm really sorry about this afternoon. I had no idea who you were. I would never in my life have... pulled you... up on the... stage.' Hermione marvelled at the area the steps had led her to. 'What is this place?" She spotted Quasimodo hiding behind a pillar.

"This is where I live." Blinking, Hermione looked around with a smile.

"Did you make all these things yourself?" He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Most of them." Hermione touched a hanging mobile.

"This is beautiful. If I could do this, you wouldn't find me dancing in the streets for coins."

"But, you're a wonderful dancer." Hermione smiled softly at the compliment.

"Well, it keeps bread on the table, anyway.' She glanced to her right and spotted something covered up in cloth. 'What's this?" She lifted the cloth before Quasimodo could stop her.

"Oh, no, please oh. I'm not finished... I still have to paint them." She blinked before chuckling to herself.

"It's the blacksmith, and the baker!' Hermione looked over the wooden carvings in awe before putting them down. 'You're a surprising person, Quasimodo. Not to mention lucky. All this room to yourself!"

"Well, it's not just me, there's the gargoyles, and of course, the bells.' He bit his lip for a moment before looking hopeful. 'Would you like to see them?" Hermione grinned.

"Yes, of course. Wouldn't we, Djali?"

Hermione fixed the goat a stern glare when she spotted what he was up to. Following Quasimodo up some more steps, Hermione looked around in wonder.

"Follow me. I'll introduce you."

She couldn't help but giggle at how excited he was to show her the bells. She would never get another chance like this, she was sure. He just looked adorable whilst showing her them.

"Never knew there were so many!" Hermione's eyes were wide at the sight of them.

"That's Little Sophia, and, Jean Marie, Ann Marie and Louise Marie. Triplets, you know." Hermione had her gaze on a larger bell.

"And who's this?" Quasimodo landed with a thud.

"Big Marie."

Grinning, Hermione ducked under and called out loudly.

"HELLO!"

Honestly, she felt like a child again as she listened to the echo. Chuckling, she saw Quasimodo look at her with a smile.

"She likes you. Would you like to see more?" She turned to Djali, who was a few steps behind them.

"How 'bout it, Djali?' The disgusting goat belched underneath Big Marie, scaring himself at the echo. Shaking her head at him, Hermione smiled. 'We'd love to."

"Good. I've saved the best for last!"

As Quasimodo stepped to the side, Hermione was greeted by a stunning view of Paris. Leaning her hands on the stone railing, she let out a content sigh.

"I bet the King himself doesn't have a view like this! I could stay up here forever." Hermione damn near had a heart attack when the man jumped over the banister and held himself up by his hands.

"You could, you know." Sighing, Hermione shook her head.

"No, I couldn't."

"Oh yes, you have sanctuary!" She moved away from the edge and folded her arms.

"But not freedom. Gypsies don't do well inside stone walls."

Hermione sat down on the roof and smiled dejectedly at Djali. Stroking his fur, she was caught off guard by Quasimodo.

"But, you're not like other gypsies. They're... evil."

"Who told you that?" Hermione was stunned.

"My master, Frollo. He raised me." She shook her head.

"How could such a cruel man have raised someone like you?"

"Cruel? Oh, no. He saved my life. He took me in when no one else would. I am a monster, you know."

"He told you that?" He gestured to himself.

"Look at me."

Hermione almost groaned when she realised that she was going to use a branch of Professor Trelawney's woolly subject. Huffing, she sat down in front of the man and held out her hand.

"Give me your hand." Taking it, she looked at his palm, hoping she either remember some of the crap she had learned or could make it up.

"Why?"

"Just let me see. Hmmm, a long-life line... oh, and this one means your shy. Hmm. Hmm, hmm, hmm... well, that's funny." She spotted Quasimodo's panicked look.

"What?"

"I don't see any."

"Any what?" Hermione raised her head and looked him in the eye.

"Monster lines. Not a single one. Now, you look at me. Do you think I'm evil?" She held out her hand to him. He looked horrified as he held her hand tenderly in both of his.

"No, no, no! You are kind, and good, and -." Hermione smiled warmly.

"And a gypsy. And maybe Frollo's wrong about the both of us."

The pair of them sat there silently for a few beats, staring out into the horizon. Quasimodo stood up and turned to her, determined.

"You helped me. Now, I will help you." Hermione frowned.

"But there's no way out. There's soldiers at every door." Quasimodo smiled and jumped up onto the stone railing.

"We won't use a door." Hermione's eyebrows disappeared beneath her hair when she realised what he was saying.

"You mean... climb down?"

"Sure, you carry him,' He gestured to Djali. 'and I carry you."

Gulping, Hermione looked down before slowly nodding. It would seem that Clopin hadn't been able to help her get over her fear completely.

"Okay, come on Djali." Djali jumped into her outstretched arms. Tying a piece of fabric around his eyes, Hermione knew that he was as much a fan of heights as she was. Djali was perhaps a bit worse. Quasimodo scooped her up and raised an eyebrow.

"Ready?" Gulping once more, she nodded.

"Yes."

"Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid.' She knew she wasn't fooling anyone though. Quasimodo then leapt over the edge and held on to a gargoyle head. 'Now, I'm afraid."

"The trick is not to look down."

The fabric removed itself from Djali's eyes and the poor goat was ready to have a stroke. Hermione kept a tight grip on him as Quasimodo swung them from hold to hold along the exterior of the cathedral.

"You've done this before?"

"No."

That did nothing to make Hermione feel better. Barely stifling a gasp, she could do nothing but pray that they would make it out of this alive. Just as he landed on a slanted roof, Hermione patted his head.

"Wow. You're quite an acrobat."

"Thank you-."

His thank you was cut short as the tile they were stood on broke free and they ended up sliding down the roof and full speed. Looking back, Hermione would compare it to being on a sled but as it was, she was more focused on not screaming. Quasimodo was able to jump them off the tile just before it went sailing into the air. Carefully lowering them down, Hermione heard the guards shout out.

"Check the alley!" "This way!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione spotted a flamed torch headed their way. Moving to act as part of the statue they were stood in front of, they waited for the guard to pass by. Sighing in relief, she sat down at the base as Quasimodo whispered to her.

"I hope I didn't scare you." She gave him a small smile.

"Not for an instant." She heard Djali groan from above and chuckled at him before Quasimodo spoke up.

"I'll never forget you, Esmeralda." Hermione grinned.

"Come with me."

"What?!"

"To the Court of Miracles. Leave this place."

"Oh, no. I'm never going back out there again. You saw what happened to me today. No. This is where I belong." He patted the stone behind them. Hermione tilted her head.

"Alright, then I'll come and see you."

"What? Here? But, the soldiers, and Frollo, and-."

"I'll come after sunset."

"At sunset, I ring the evening mass, and after that, I clean the cloisters, and then I ring the vespers, and-.' Hermione pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, feeling that he was babbling. 'Whatever's good for you."

Hermione pulled out a talisman, that she had woven herself, out of her hair. Grinning, she handed it to him.

"If you ever need sanctuary, this will show you the way."

"But, how?"

"Just remember: When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand."

Quasimodo tucked it into his tunic just as Djali let out a bleat, warning them of the guards returning.

"Hurry! You must go!"

Hermione jumped onto a thatched roof and held her arms out for Djali. Grabbing a rope, she swung the pair of them down before running off into the dark alleyways. Ducking and diving, Hermione felt as though she was having to hide around every corner. She was able to find a nearby entrance to the catacombs.

Carefully making her way through the tunnels, she tried not to make too much noise. She didn't want the guards above hearing her, especially since there was no noise above to cover her movements. It took a little while but Hermione was able to lead Djali towards the Court.

The second she entered the Court, she felt a strong sense of relief. The bright lights warmed her soul in more ways than a patronus charm ever could. Smiling as she stepped inside, it wasn't long before the people realised she was there. It was the children who noticed first.

"Esmeralda!" "Esmeralda!"

Giggling, Hermione found herself surrounded by all the kids as they shouted out compliments to her.

"You were awesome!" "Can you teach me how to take out guards like you did?!" "What took you so long?"

Chuckling, she simply shook her head at them but before she could say a word, a blur launched itself at her at full speed. Only just keeping herself upright, Hermione chuckled when she realised she had an armful of Selina.

"You stupid, stupid, wonderful woman!" Hermione sniggered before whispering in her friend's ear.

"How much trouble am I in, mon amie?"

Selina pulled back slightly and wiped the tears in her eyes. Taking a good long look at her, she let out a sigh.

"He's been besides himself ever since he found out you were trapped in Notre Dame. I can't honestly say if you're in trouble or not. However,' She clasped Hermione's hands in hers as she beamed. 'thank you. No one has ever stood up to the guards or Frollo in such a way before. Especially not for our sakes."

Feeling the tension leave her body, Hermione just nodded with a small smile. Selina let her go and allowed the other gypsies to greet her and thank her themselves. Not believing she had done anything worth being thanked for, she tried to brush off any more thanks. However, her people were a stubborn lot. Bartley had walked up to her and patted her shoulder.

"Good luck."

Hermione looked confused until she followed his line of sight. Straight to the angry look on her husband's face.