Braeden seemed to shrink smaller and smaller in size as Deus continued throwing accusations at him. Even the idea of Gryffindor and Slytherin trying to cheat, ridiculous as it was, didn't really get much of a reaction out of the Gryffindor boy. Normally, Braeden would have immediately jumped at this, protested at the absurdity of the idea, shown some sort of reaction, anything at all! But he seemed to have gone blank after Deus's earlier words - 'I am done with you'. Yeah, that hit Brae… hard.

The Gryffindor boy sniffled softly as the back of his right hand brushed over his eyes. He had a bad feeling that Deus, angry as he was at that moment, was not going to listen to reason. He had already made up his mind, had already decided to cut Braeden off his list of friends and dump he, who had been his best friend for a few months now.

"I assure you Caroline and I aren't plotting anything against Ravenclaw," said the boy in a weak voice; it was all he could really say, though he knew it would be useless. Deus wouldn't listen to him. And at this point, Braeden was feeling too down to even try. "I hope when your head clears you'll still be willing to talk to me. I'll keep my window open… and if the guys don't like it, I'll sleep out in the grounds." He shrugged. "In case you send an owl…" So he wouldn't have to send forty-seven like last time.