"Ay, in the very temple of Delight
Veil'd Melancholy has her sovran shrine." — John Keats, Ode on Melancholy
…
The group held onto their last hope of completing the task at the second nest on the island. If this failed, they would have to restart from scratch: searching the dangerous mainland forest for Nettle plants and elusive Glumbubles, a prospect far riskier than staying on the island.
They reached the location of the second nest.
It was significantly smaller than the one in the Giant Tree. In fact, it was so small they barely felt the influence of the Melancholy treacle. It was a stretch to even call it a nest.
They stared at the pitiful cluster of insects, speechless.
"We cannot collect the amount required for the task from here," Hestia said, her voice flat. "Even if we wait until the deadline, they won't produce enough. This won't work."
Defeated, they agreed to return to the cabin to discuss further plans. It was around noon—lunchtime—but no one had the appetite to eat. They sat in silence, chewing on tough elk jerky, lost in thought.
Regulus, sitting atop a tree branch outside the cabin, looked in the direction where he knew Mr Morrow was hiding.
He had recovered from the Melancholy attack much faster than expected. In fact, he found that his Occlumency was now more proficient than before. The constant pressure of the psychic attack had forced his mental shields to harden. He was surprised by the improvement.
He jumped down and gathered the absent-minded group.
"Listen up, guys. We cannot give up on our task now. Our only option is to collect the Melancholy treacle from the hollow of the Giant Tree. We cannot go back into the mainland forest to search for another nest—only Merlin knows what dangers lurk in those depths. I suggest we try the big nest again."
The group was reluctant. The attack wasn't physical; it was psychological, digging up their worst memories and deepest sorrows. It was a terrifying experience.
Sensing their hesitation, Regulus pressed on. "It is not a lost cause. I feel a distinct improvement in my Occlumency after facing it. We should approach the tree every day and try to build up our resistance to the Melancholy. Think of it as training."
Hestia recovered from her dejection first and nodded, determination returning to her eyes. Emma and Charlus slowly agreed. After all, they endured the hardships of this school solely to become better than their peers. This disaster was actually a rare training opportunity.
They finished their dried meat and spent the afternoon recovering from the lingering effects of the psychological attack. Since Regulus had already recovered, he returned to the tree alone to test his limits.
…
Mr Morrow POV
It has been two days since the kids started this specific task. I have concealed myself with a Disillusionment Charm and followed them to ensure their safety.
They have improvised well according to the situation. Especially during the Kappa attack—they proved themselves to be a balanced group.
When I saw a Kelpie approach them, I nearly felt my heart in my throat. If they had foolishly tried to ride the creature without precautions, they would have drowned before I could call upon the Headmistress or the Thunderbird. Fortunately, they had brains and knew how to tame one.
But then they mounted the Kelpie and dove underwater without even casting a Bubble-Head Charm first.
Idiots.
I Apparated to the island instantly and hid myself. The Kelpie surfaced directly near the tree where I was hidden. I had to Apparate again to distance myself before they spotted me.
Though, I suspect Regulus knows I am following them. I noticed him unconsciously turn in my direction whenever I moved. But I refuse to accept that I have been discovered by a ten-year-old brat. If he did find me, it is fascinating to think of the sensory range he possesses. After all, he is my student.
The group is dejected now because of the Melancholy. But Regulus is proving to be a good leader. He is getting them back on track.
As Mr Morrow pondered this, he saw Regulus approaching the tree again.
Regulus reached the vicinity of the nest. He did not dive right in recklessly this time. He stopped at the edge of the aura, observing the magic of the Melancholy. At this distance, it was too weak to enter his mind.
He stepped forward until the Melancholy began to penetrate his shields. He stopped moving and let it influence him, immersing himself in the experience.
He felt sadness welling up—sorrow about his rebirth, his past failures.
Then, all of a sudden, his Occlumency flared. In seconds, it expelled the Melancholy, and he recovered his composure.
Regulus stood there, feeling nothing. He could see the magic trying to influence his mind, but his barriers were stronger now. He checked the time; it was around 6:00 PM. He marked the spot where he was standing by inserting a stick into the swampy mud, then turned and moved back to his cabin.
…
Day 6
The next morning, they started early for the Giant Tree.
Regulus advised them to mark the spot where they could safely retreat if they couldn't endure the pressure anymore. He instructed them not to dive right into the influence but to raise their Occlumency shields first and proceed carefully.
The furthest from the tree was Emma. Next was Charlus, then Hestia. Finally, Regulus stood at the front.
When the group saw how far ahead Regulus was, they were concerned. But seeing him manage it, they were impressed. They felt the gap between Regulus and themselves widening. Instead of sulking in envy, however, this motivated them to improve.
Regulus started slow, matching the pace of the group. When they retreated, he retreated. But as time went on, his endurance began to show.
By the end of the day:
Hestia had progressed two steps. Charlus had progressed three steps. Emma had progressed three steps. Regulus had progressed four steps.
They returned to the cabin exhausted. Charlus and Emma had splitting headaches, and Hestia was feeling drained. Regulus was tired, but compared to the rest, he seemed normal.
Day 7
They continued their practice.
Hestia: 3 steps. Charlus: 3 steps. Emma: 4 steps (almost catching up to Charlus). Regulus: 6 steps.
Day 8
The progress slowed for the group as the intensity of the magic increased closer to the tree. The initial hype faded into a gruelling struggle.
Hestia was stuck on a single step all day before finally progressing one step. Charlus and Emma were stalled at the same position. Regulus was still progressing rapidly. He took another six steps today, despite the pressure being significantly higher. His gift of 'Adept' was starting to shine.
Day 9
Everyone was slowly progressing by single steps. Hestia managed two steps today. They felt slow, but in reality, they were improving at a rate far faster than their peers back at school. This island was naturally the greatest training ground for Occlumency.
Regulus progressed the same six steps.
Day 10
This was the day Regulus reached the entrance of the hollow. He progressed seven steps and stood at the threshold.
This was the exact spot where he had suffered his breakdown on the first day. He could feel the magic rushing to his mind, but his adaptive Occlumency cleared the unpleasant memories and suppressed them at a rapid rate. He felt his mood improving, freeing himself from the influence.
He looked back to see his group in the distance. They were averaging two steps per day. At that rate, it would take them a month just to reach the entrance.
Day 11
Regulus entered the hollow.
He was bombarded with emotions the moment he stepped inside. The Glumbubles noticed the intruder and ramped up the Melancholy production to full potency.
Regulus sat down and started meditating to adjust his mood. His Occlumency progressed again, adapting to the spiked pressure. He stood up, took a step, adjusted, and stepped again.
He had taken five steps into the cave. Fifteen more to reach the centre and the nest.
Day 12
He surprisingly progressed seven steps today. The 'Adept' ability was unpredictable but efficient. He could feel the abundant magic emanating from the nest now—a thick, cloying aura of sorrow.
"Eight more steps to go," he said to himself, exiting the hollow.
He found his friends still progressing slowly. At first, they had thought to compete with Regulus, but they had given up on day four. Now, they focused only on their own improvement.
They had only one collective thought about Regulus: Monster.
Day 13
Regulus gritted his teeth and reached the centre of the hollow.
He stood directly before the nest. He adjusted his mood, hardened his mind, and collected the treacle into two jars.
Curiosity got the better of him. He placed a drop of the treacle on the tip of his tongue.
It tasted like sweet chocolate at first. But as it slid down his throat, it turned into the bitterest medicine he had ever tasted. It dissolved in his stomach and immediately tried to attack his mind from the inside. Even his happiest memories began to turn sad.
Regulus had to suppress it with his full Occlumency power to keep from breaking down.
Day 14 - Day 27
Since Regulus had collected the material required for the task, the group did not return immediately. They stayed to train, determined to at least see the nest with their own eyes.
Regulus, having mastered the environment, began a dangerous game. He started carefully tasting the Melancholy. The feelings resurfaced, and he suppressed them. He progressed from one drop... to three... to five drops a day.
Day 28
Hestia finally reached the entrance of the cave with much difficulty. Her Occlumency shield was running at full power, beads of sweat on her forehead.
The sight inside made her marvel. The nest was much larger than she had imagined.
Then she noticed a small figure nearby.
Regulus was sitting in a meditative position. He opened his eyes, scooped a cup full of raw Melancholy directly from the nest, and drank it.
His face twitched for a second, and then he returned to his meditative state.
Seeing this, Hestia almost dropped her Occlumency shields in shock. She stumbled but regained her balance at the last second. She decided to ignore the insane boy and focused on her own progress.
Day 29
Charlus and Emma finally stood at the entrance of the cave. They looked at the huge nest in awe. Hestia was a few steps ahead of them.
And there was Regulus.
He was drinking Melancholy from a bottle, looking like a drunkard sipping wine. His eyes were glassy, but he was fully conscious, his expression calm and unaffected by the liquid sadness.
Charlus and Emma dropped their Occlumency shields in sheer shock. Tears welled up in their eyes instantly from the ambient magic.
They both thought the same thing: The blow to our pride from seeing Regulus is far worse than the Melancholy itself.
Day 30
They packed up and started moving towards the forest.
They didn't waste time bridling the Kelpie, even though Hestia wanted to say goodbye. They transfigured a boat, crossed the moat, travelled through the mangrove branches, and reached the solid land.
They arrived at the cave with the Fidelius Charm intact in the evening.
Mr Morrow was waiting for them inside.
"Children, you are back at last. I thought you would not be back until tomorrow. Have you completed the task?" asked Mr Morrow.
"Yes, Mr Morrow. We finished the task successfully," said Charlus, puffing out his chest as if he were the one who had done all the work.
Everyone looked at him. Without Regulus, they would still be crying in the swamp. Even Mr Morrow gave him a look of disbelief.
Regulus looked at Mr Morrow with a glint in his eye. Did you take acting classes, too?
Mr Morrow noticed Regulus's look and confirmed it. He knows.
Mr Morrow collected the jar for the task and put it inside his storage bag. He called Regulus aside for a minute.
"Regulus, I know you know it," said Mr Morrow quietly.
"Know what, Mr Morrow?" asked Regulus innocently.
"Don't pretend to be dumb."
"I know, Mr Morrow."
"Don't disclose the information to your friends," Morrow warned.
"Alright. But it will cost you a bit."
Mr Morrow, already frustrated that he had been discovered by a ten-year-old boy, reached the end of his patience. A vein popped on his forehead. He smacked the back of Regulus's head.
"What did you say, boy?"
Regulus, having seen his teacher's wrath on Charlus countless times, immediately switched to obedience. "I was just about to say, 'Take care, Teacher.'"
Mr Morrow snorted and Disapparated from the spot.
Regulus rubbed the back of his head in pain and muttered, "That old fellow is still strong."
He went back to his friends to decide on dinner.