After the miniature phase of being startled for the upteenth time, Hermione sat still, patiently and curiously listening to Elphaba's explanation and truth that she had never known.
Here she thought that she was the one keeping people in the dark, not knowing it was in the opposite direction. She was more kept in the dark about various things that her eyes couldn't see.
"—I was given to her?" Hermione stuttered, trying to recollect her sanity that she felt was slowly slipping away from her grasp.
An affirming nod from the Witch Queen was all it took to shatter the image in her mind, to bring ruin to her soul and chaos in her heart.
"My mother gave me away?" She choked on her words, difficulty in attempting to relay the words without sounding too affected.
"She had no choice." Elphaba stated.
"She had no choice?" Hermione repeated disbelievingly.
"You should see this better, Hermione."