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Warmth.

He had felt it many times in the literal sense, having snuggled under his covers too many times to count on a cold, wintery night. But the warmth of a family...that he would never know. With his mother gone, no father that he knew of, and no siblings whatsoever, the closest thing he had ever had to a family was Frollo and the gargoyles. He had longed for it many times, having seen it in action out on the streets. Many times he had seen a crying, scared little girl run to her mother, who would hug her and make it all better simply by holding her. Because he had received this small taste of what love was, he longed for it all the more. A person who has never felt the coziness of a fire doesn't know what he is missing. However, a person who has felt it and has to go without it freezes to death. Sometimes, he felt as if he would never feel the warmth of a friendship, and he wondered if he would slowly freeze to death in the dark belltower.

Quasimodo opened the door to a rather small and low ceilinged room, allowing the girl he had only just met to step inside. The wooden rafters that ran above their heads slanted at an angle, closing the cozy, little space in even further. A stone fireplace that occupied the short wall at the end of the room opposite the heavy, wooden door was the first thing anyone would see upon entering. Inside, a fire was already lit, and it cast an orangish light on the confined quarters. Sophia stepped into the center of the room, looking around at her surroundings quietly. She had a subdued, thoughtful look on her face, and Quasimodo couldn't help but think that she acted a little bit lonely. In truth, Sophia was wrapped up in how homey and comfortable the room made her feel.

Quasimodo watched her for awhile curiously before following her into the room. He left the door partially open so as not to make the room even more cramped than it already was. It wouldn't take long for Sophia's clothes to dry in there.

The small girl stepped close to the fire, settling down on the wood floor beneath her. The blanket Quasimodo had handed to her had been wrapped tightly around her, but now, she let it settle to the ground around her so her clothes would dry out more quickly. She shivered slightly when her chilled skin came into contact with the warmth of the fire. Absentmindedly, she propped her elbows up on her knees, resting her head in her hands. Sophia's gaze rested on the dancing orangish gold flames in front of her, but her eyes had the glazed look of someone whose mind was somewhere else.

Quasimodo stood silently behind her and close to the wall, feeling a bit unsure. He thought about returning to his own room, but the idea of leaving her alone bothered him. Truth be told, he didn't really want to leave. He was captivated by the kindness she had shown him and found himself wanting to know her. The only thing he really knew about her was her name. She didn't even know his yet.

The hunchback's eyes drifted across the small room though he had seen it many times before. He had been there more times than he could count, but gazing around the room made it look like he was preoccupied and not simply standing there. Suddenly, his line of sight rested on the wall behind him, and before he could stop it, a frown made its way onto his face. He could feel the familiar sadness seep back into his eyes when he spied both his and Sophia's shadows on the wall. The difference in their shapes nearly disheartened him. He looked at them for the longest time as they flickered with the changing positions of the flames. Quasimodo seemed to be struggling with something inside of him, but one look at the tiny girl huddled in front of the fire made up his mind for him.

Quasimodo made his way towards the fireplace, coming into Sophia's line of sight as he did so. He had decided that he wasn't going to hide in front of this person. Somehow, something had given him the courage to want to know somebody and be known by them. The time had come where staying hidden would cause him more pain than if he took the risk to try and live.

The hunchback made his way to the corner of the room, removing a log from a pile of firewood there. The fire had started to die down a little. He walked in front of the fire and tossed it in, stirring up a flurry of red-hot cinders. Sophia started suddenly, brought back to earth by the sudden disturbance in the fireplace. She glanced up at Quasimodo and smiled. Her expression was always so gentle, and it brought to light how soft spoken she was. After her frantic attempt to apologize earlier, she had become quite subdued and silent. Sophia was the type of person who was afraid she troubled others and so suffered quietly on her own.

Quasimodo smiled back impulsively, a delighted look on his face. Smiling gently at the hunchback in front of her, Sophia scooted over a little, making room for him to sit next to her on the wooden floor. Quasimodo looked a little surprised before shyly settling on the floor beside her. He wrapped his arms around his legs, smiling happily to himself. After a comfortable moment of silence, Sophia spoke.

"I...um...thank you very much...uh...?" Here the girl trailed off, apparently inquiring as to what his name was. She peered at him with a childlike curiosity, playing with her fingers as she asked.

Quasimodo hesitated, feeling a little reluctant. He knew what his name meant--'half-formed'. He had heard the people in the church talking about it. "A horrid name," they had said, "Grotesque." Quasimodo knew it fit him, but he didn't want them to think that way. A name like that was just another way of pointing out his ugliness to the world. He didn't want Sophia's attention to be drawn to it as well.

"...Quasimodo,"the hunchback murmured at last, his gaze dropping to the floor.

"Quasimodo..." Sophia repeated the name slowly as if she were trying it out. She decided she liked it. She had no idea what it meant, but she really enjoyed the way it rolled off of her tongue. She liked how his name started out with the awkward phrase 'Quasi', which was delightfully odd, but then ended with the more strong and courageous sound of 'modo'. The last part of his name sounded normal enough, it was true, but Sophia felt that it made a promise of things to come...like there was more to it than just the sound.

"You have such a wonderful name,"she remarked softly. Quasimodo thought he heard a tinge of envy in it.

"I...really?" he questioned, looking incredibly pleased. He was nearly stunned speechless.

"Yes,"the small girl replied, looking thoughtfully at the floor,"It's such a unique name. It makes you one of a kind. There's dozens of Sophias out there." She said this regretfully. Sophia had never much liked her name. She had always wished she could have a special name--one that made her feel like she was the only one in the world like her. She didn't want to feel like she could be replaced.

"But I like your name..." Quasimodo exclaimed, wanting to make her feel good,"...Sophia." In truth, he really did like her name. The name was almost tangible to him--soft and light like a newborn baby bird.

The freckled girl smiled at him gently, stroking a strand of her coppery hair shyly.

"Thank you,"she murmured softly,"but you can call me Sophie. I like that a little better."

"Sophie," Quasimodo repeated. Then, they smiled at eachother. Both had such gentle smiles. They were both so soft spoken, it was almost as if they didn't want to be noticed by other people because they feared that they would reject them. So, instead, they tread quietly through life so as not to draw attention to themselves. It was almost like they thought they had no other choice but to live their life as quietly and unnoticeably as possible.

Suddenly, Sophie stood up, a small frown on her face.

"I guess...I should be going." She whispered it. Her voice was nearly inaudible and lonely...so lonely. Why is she so lonely? How could someone like her be left alone in this world? Maybe...she really is homeless.

The fragile little girl headed for the door, but stopped at the exit, sending yet another smile in Quasimodo's direction. It was always a kind smile, but Quasimodo couldn't help but think that it somehow looked a little lonely every time she showed it.

Sophie's clothes were already finished drying, and, in truth, they probably had lost their dampness some time ago. Her cheeks had even turned a rosy red from being exposed to the heat of the flames for so long. Now that she was dry, there really was no reason why she should be there. That's what she had thought at least, but now, as she stood by the door, she had no idea where she would go. Quasimodo even noticed how reluctant she looked. She doesn't want to leave. He thought this quietly to himself, and in doing so realized that he didn't want her to have to leave.

"Thank you for everything, Quasimodo,"Sophie murmured, her hand resting on the door frame. She opened her mouth as if she would like to say something more. It seemed for a moment that she really wanted to have it spoken out loud, but at the last moment, she hesitated, and instead said nothing at all.

Though there was nothing more to be said, she paused yet again at the door. She stared at the floor with a blank expression, feeling horribly empty. Why is it so hard to leave this time? It's never been this hard before! It's worse than I expected it to be. This isn't the first time I've had to go back, but now I feel like it's so hard to go back and face them...

Sophie felt as if she were on the verge of tears. Where? Where can I go to avoid that place? Why do I have to go back? Why? Why can't I stay here? Why can't I? With this...this warmth...this kindness. There were many things about Sophie that Quasimodo didn't understand or know about yet. There were somethings that he never would have imagined about her. He didn't know that there were many things that they had in common. They were so different--one from the outside, the other from the inside; one an deformed bellringer, the other a pretty girl--and yet, they were so much the same. All they wanted was the warmth that comes from the friendship of another person--a happy home where everyone would smile at them and let them know they were loved. Both seemed to think that they would never get there, but they struggled, and somehow, they managed to keep their heads afloat just enough that, when the time came, they would be able to see the person who was willing to jump in and save them from drowning.

Quasimodo looked on quietly as the tiny little girl who had so suddenly dived into his life started out the door with hesitant, slow steps. Her feet seemed to drag on the floor as if she wished they would anchor her to that place--that magnificent cathedral. But before she could be entirely swept away by the tide, he called out her name, and it made all the difference in their lives.

"Sophie,"the hunchback began suddenly, stopping her in her tracks,"Sophie, do you have somewhere to go? I-I mean...are you...homeless?"

Sophie froze so suddenly that it was as if she had been instantly struck with paralysis. She stared at the floor with a shocked expression, her eyes wide. Homeless? She looked back at the hunchback she had just met and saw the slightly curious and caring expression on his face. Homeless? If I told him that I was...would I be able to stay?

"I..."she began unsurely, avoiding his eyes,"I..." She seemed to hesitate for a long time.

"Yes,"she whispered finally,"Yes, I am." With her eyes trained determinedly on the wall, Quasimodo never would have guessed that she was lying...or at least, not telling all of the truth. Once the words were out of her mouth, though, she glanced up at him with her startling, green eyes. They were expectant and weary, like a child who thought they might receive something, but was afraid to get their hopes up.

Quasimodo picked up the blanket that had been left on the floor and silently made his way towards her. He wasn't afraid to hold her gaze anymore, and when he looked at her with his clear, blue eyes, they shone with kindness.

"Then, if you have no place to go,...maybe you could stay here."

Sophie hung onto his every word, wishing with all of her heart that it was true.

"Stay...here?"she repeated. Her hope was so strong Quasimodo could nearly feel it in the air.

"Could I really do that?"she asked, a light shining in her emerald eyes,"Would I be allowed to?" Quasimodo trudged on, encouraged by her enthusiasm.

"If you need to...I mean, there are some spare rooms up here for the people who help around the church, and if you need a place to stay, I'm sure that the Archdeacon would let you sleep in one of them. I'm sure that they'd be more than happy to allow it if you helped out and...and..." Quasimodo trailed off, watching her reaction carefully. Her whole face lit up and she looked so radiant for a moment that he almost forgot where he was.

"I...I...really?"she asked breathlessly, almost too startled to put her thoughts in to words,"I mean...I can ask him? All I have to do is help around here? I...where is he at? The Archdeacon?"

Quasimodo smiled softly, stepping around her into the hallway. After the brightness of the fire, it was rather gloomy out there. Still, the hunchback couldn't help but feel that a different light was beginning to shine in the belltower.

"Follow me,"he said quietly, gesturing for her to follow. Without a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward, putting her trust with Quasimodo without a second thought.

Warmth

Disclaimer!

Hugo: Yeah, yeah, yeah! I get it! I know it's time for the disclaimer, but I have a bone to pick with my dear friend, FredGeorgeWazlib!

FredGeorgeWazlib: This should be fun.

Hugo: I want to know why you felt the need to exclude me from this chapter! How could you possibly leave me out? Laverne, I understand, but me!? What were you thinking!? All your readers are going to hate it. Shoot! You should have a whole story just about me!

FredGeorgeWazlib: Umm...no.

Hugo: Why not? It could be called 'Hugo's High-Flying Adventures in Notre Dame!'

FredGeorgeWazlib: Ugh...I really should start doing these myself. Anyways, I don't own him (not that I would want to) or Laverne, Victor, Quasi, Frollo, Esmeralda, Phoebus, the Archdeacon, or Clopin. Oh, and Djali.

Hugo: Djali!? Djali's going to be in this? This story really must be about me, after all! 'Hugo's High-Flying Adventures in Notre Dame'...a DjaliXHugo story.

FredGeorgeWazlib: Umm...no. Where is Laverne and why hasn't she hit you yet?

Laverne: Sorry, FredGeorgeWazlib, I'm planning something good.

FredGeorgeWazlib: Oh phooey.

Thanks for reading everyone! Now, about this one, I don't actually know if there could be a fireplace upstairs in that time. In the book, Frollo has a fireplace in a room upstairs somewhere, but I'm not sure if it is Notre Dame or the Palace of Justice. I wondered about not having the fireplace, but I rather like it, so I hope it goes okay. Thanks for reading! Oh, and I'd like to say thanks to Opaque Opal for all of her helpful reviews! They help keep me going! By the way, for those who have read this from the beginning, I have changed this to be just like the movie with Esmeralda and Phoebus and everything. You may want to read the new note I have put on the first chapter. Thanks for reading! Bye!