HEATHER POTTER AND THE LEGACY OF ALESSA

CHAPTER 3:

THE MALEVOLENT MISSIONARY

People say too often that they've been to Hell and back. Heather could at least say that with a straight face, even before Silent Hill's influence was drawn over this shopping mall. As Alessa, she had suffered for seven years in a burnt body that wasn't allowed to die. As Cheryl, she had to negotiate the misty streets and avoid the monsters of Silent Hill, monsters born from Alessa's torment.

And now, as Heather, she had been to the Otherworld again. A rusty, bloody parody of the shopping mall, infested with monsters, and filled with grotesque and macabre obstacles and even puzzles. The puzzles was the town's way of slowing her progress, she knew. One thing she knew about the malevolent entity that dreamed beneath Silent Hill was that it enjoyed playing games with people's lives. More so than Dumbledore.

It had culminated in her having to fight off a massive worm with two heads, one inside the other, with uncomfortably phallic imagery that she knew was par for the course in Silent Hill. Killing it after a prolonged battle made the hellish version of the mall disappear. Soon, she was back in normal reality, or at least something close to it.

When she made her way to the entrance area, though, the only person present was that damned detective. "Heather!" he yelled, seeming relieved.

"You…" Heather said, glaring. "You're working for Claudia, aren't you?"

"Claudia? Yes, she hired me to find you, that's all. I didn't know anything about…whatever that was. How did the mall change? And those monsters…"

He seemed sincere enough. He may have allowed the Cult to track her down, but he was just doing his job. Probably got fed bullshit by someone else. Heather sighed, trying to not let her anger overwhelm her. "Okay, Mr Cartland, wasn't it? Long story short, Claudia is part of a cult. Said cult wants me."

"Why?"

"Well, let me put it this way. How do you think your trousers came off?"

"I don't know."

"The answer is simple, though it's hard to believe. I'm a witch, Mr Cartland." She gestured, saying "Accio!", and Douglas' hat flew into her hand.

"Whoa!" Douglas yelped, his eyes wide. "So…what does that have to do with what happened? Did you cause that?"

"Not exactly. The source is within me, but it's being influenced by another entity. You heard me mention Silent Hill earlier, right. The town's alive, and worse, it's malevolent, with a twisted sense of humour. I was born there 31 years ago…24 years ago…and seventeen years ago."

Douglas looked at her with a blank, confused expression. "…Sorry, what? But I thought you were seventeen."

"Looks can be deceiving. Look, Mr Cartland," she said, walking over and handing him the hat, "Claudia tricked you. You've stumbled into a situation that is pretty fucking dangerous. I've got to get home as soon as possible and warn my father." As she headed for the subway, she said, "I hope nothing's happened to him, or I'll be pissed at you. Not as much as I will be with Claudia, though."

"And what do I do?" Douglas asked.

"Up to you, but I suggest getting the Hell out of Dodge," Heather said, as she descended the escalators to the subway…

Of course, things were never as simple as that. Even with the weapons she had managed to accrue on her journey, as well as her magic, she still felt underarmed for this. Still, the monsters that infested even the subway didn't have much resistance to magic.

Unfortunately, that proved all for naught when she got close to one of the platforms, only to be shoved off violently. The place had been empty, but she had read about some suicide, and a ghost that had inhabited the area. It seemed that had been correct, or else some malevolent entity thought it'd be funny to do that.

As she landed heavily on the tracks, she felt before she heard the rumble of the train speeding towards her. As she got to her feet, she saw the light of the train speeding towards her. By the time her mind unfroze, she knew it was too late to climb back onto the platform.

Desperately, knowing that Apparition without visualising a destination was dangerous, but no less dangerous than being in the path of an oncoming train, she closed her eyes, concentrated, felt the distinctive squeezing sensation…

…And was somewhere else. Somewhere where a man had emitted a short, girly scream upon her sudden appearance. Oh great, there goes the Statute of Secrecy, she thought, a little woozily from her impromptu escape from locomotive death.

Of course, the man's words put that fear out of her head…and a different fear entirely back in.

"Ah, Heather Mason…or should that be Heather Potter? It's something of an honour to meet the Girl Who Lived."

She shook her head to rid it of the dizziness. She found herself facing a young man in his twenties, neatly dressed, but unshaven, wearing glasses like she used to wear. There was something almost instantly unlikeable about him. They were in a psychology clinic, one she recognised as being in a business building not far from her apartments.

"Who're you? I mean, you know who I am, but…"

"Oh, but of course. Where are my manners? Vincent Smith(1). Don't forget it, okay?" He settled his glasses on his nose.

Heather frowned. "Are you with Claudia?"

Vincent got up, annoyed. "I'd thank you not to lump me in with her! She was totally brainwashed by that crazy old hag!" He calmed down, before saying, "Well, that's a bit harsh, considering I am talking about your mother."

"I don't mind," Heather said. "She was a crazy old hag. You're talking about Dahlia, aren't you?"

Vincent grinned, rather unpleasantly, musing, "So Claudia was telling the truth. You do have all your memories. You wouldn't remember me, though. I was only a babe in arms when your mother decided to set you on fire."

"But you know Claudia? Are you part of the Cult?"

"I am one of its ministers, though I have no interest in bringing forth God. Let's just say that my tastes are somewhat more mundane than spiritual, and God's advent would ruin my life just as much as it would ruin a lot of other people's. Claudia doesn't trust me."

"I wonder why," Heather said. "You look very trustworthy."

"You wound me with your sarcasm. I'm sure it helped against Voldemort," Vincent said with a sneer. "The Girl Who Lived…by running all the time."

Heather shook her head. "If you want my help stopping Claudia, then you're going a funny way about it. I need to get home, warn my father."

"Are you sure you're going to get there on time? Claudia's on her way to have someone kill Harry," Vincent said, with mock concern. "Clock's ticking."

Vincent was surprised when the teenaged girl he had been tormenting a little gave him the two-fingered salute, then disappeared with a loud crack!

To the empty office, Vincent muttered, out loud, with a surprised but amused smirk on his face, "Maybe she can…"

Still, at least their brief encounter had turned up something. Claudia was right, she did possess Alessa and Cheryl's memories. Or else Heather was very well-informed, and knew how to play the role. Either way, it was confirmed that she would oppose Claudia's plans. Which was good. With any luck, that would negate the need to kill Heather before God could be born.

Of course, it meant that he would have to go and track down some Aglaophotis to make absolutely sure. It was quite rare, and he'd have to see if Dr Kaufmann had any secret stashes left back in Silent Hill.

That being said, he decided to follow Heather, though it was a pity he was no mage, and thus couldn't use Apparition. Regardless of the outcome of the battle to come, she might need some pointers in the right direction.

Heather arrived in her apartment just in time to see her father flung back by a grotesque creature. His wounds weren't mortal, but as he landed heavily in his favourite armchair, she could see that he would need a hospital…or healing magic.

The beast confronting him was roughly human-looking. It seemed to wear a bloody, begrimed apron, its arms bedecked with blades, and its head covered by a shapeless sack that twitched and spasmed. Or maybe the sack was its head. She didn't know, or care.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Heather yelled, gesturing at the beast. Its bladed arms snapped to its sides, and it toppled like a felled tree. Then, turning to her father, she began waving her arm over his wounds. "Vulnera Sanentur…Vulnera Sanentur…Vulnera Sanentur…" she murmured in a song-like incantation. Another spell Snape had developed, though others knew it. The result was that her father's wounds closed up.

Harry Mason looked up at his adopted daughter, his dazed look clearing, until he looked behind her. "Heather, look out!"

Heather whirled to find that the creature had broken free of the Body-Bind, and was advancing on them both, intending to turn them into mincemeat. Heather knew what it was: one of the fanatics of the Cult, warped by the power of Silent Hill into a monster. Even now, she could hear its thoughts, fanatic ravings along the lines of killing the unbelievers. It thought itself a Missionary, bringing the word of God to the heretics. The rest was bloodlust and fury.

"Sectumsempra!" Heather snarled, slashing her fingers through the air at the beast. Unlike the other monsters, though, it didn't go down. She and Harry dived to the side as it charged them, and crashed into his armchair.

"The roof!" Harry yelled. He made for the fire escape, clambering up the steps, Heather hot on his heels.

When they got to the roof, Claudia was there, frowning. "You're somewhat early," she observed, as if she was the hostess of a party, and a guest had arrived before it started.

"Actually, I was just in time, Little Claudia," Heather panted, a little tired from both running and using high-end spells wandlessly. "Apparition…it's good in an emergency."

"You know this woman?" Harry asked.

"She was my little sister in everything but blood, back when I was Alessa," Heather explained. "Unfortunately, my mother fucked with her head, even after I got roasted by her. She used to be my oldest friend. I think tonight, we're having a falling out. You sent that maniac to kill my father, Claudia. Was it revenge?"

"Partly," Claudia conceded with a nod. She glared at Harry. "You took her from us seventeen years ago. You've poisoned her mind…"

"Poisoned nothing, Claudia!" Heather yelled. "I had doubts about my beliefs, and Dahlia burnt it out of me for good when she turned me into an incubator for a demon! Harry at least gave a fuck about me!"

"Heather, language." Harry then glared at Claudia. "Between your mother and those idiots in Britain, she's gone through enough without you trying to use her for your own deranged dreams! Can't you be happy that she's happy?"

"You understand nothing, Harry Mason," Claudia said with a glare. "Your death was to further boost the anger and hatred. I will bear any burden to make sure Paradise comes about, including the rancour of my oldest friend." A snarl came from behind them, and Harry and Heather whirled to find the Missionary stalking towards them. As it advanced, Claudia said, "You may leave Silent Hill, but Silent Hill never leaves you. If you think you can stop me, then by all means, follow me there. Should you survive my Missionary, anyway…"

Heather turned briefly, to see Claudia walking away. Then she looked at the creature, which was advancing on Harry. She shot at it with the pistol she got at the shopping centre, causing it to turn and face her. As it stalked towards her, she slid the pistol along the ground to Harry. "Where'd you get this?!" Harry demanded.

"Not now, Dad!" Heather yelled. "Save it for when we don't have the fanatic hellbeast trying to carve us new orifices!" She dashed away as the creature lunged, before sending an Incendio at its back. It caught fire, and roared. Harry shot it more times, Heather sliding him a magazine she had picked up at the shopping centre. As it began to charge once more, Heather sent a Bombarda charm its way. That did the trick, turning the creature into a shower of rancid gore.

She stared at the scorch mark, and the mephitic mangled gore surrounding it. Then, the day's events caught up with her, and she emptied her stomach onto the tiles of the rooftop.

"Heather?" Harry asked, coming over. "Are you okay?"

Heather nodded, weakly, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. "I'll live…for the moment, anyway. Listen, we're in trouble. The Cult's found us, as you might have gathered. Some detective called Cartland was hired by the Cult to find us, but he's a patsy, some idiot they suckered into tracking us down. I also encountered some creep called Vincent. Did you ever meet him in Silent Hill?"

"No," Harry said. "It doesn't ring a bell."

"Well, he claimed to be a minister with the Cult, but he also claims that he's not on Claudia's side. He said he preferred more mundane pleasures than spiritual."

"Okay, okay, Heather. Settle down, and then, we'll talk about it, and then, we'll figure out what to do from there…"

CHAPTER 3 ANNOTATIONS:

The first true divergence from the plot of Silent Hill 3 has occurred. Harry Mason has survived. And while we've skipped a few parts of the game, well, there wasn't much story in those bits, though I have put in a meeting between Vincent and Heather, which goes a bit differently from the game.

Review-answering time! Sakura Lisel: It's clear from your review that you've never played the Silent Hill games. For those of you that haven't, here's a quick overview. I'm using the dates as they would be in the Potterverse (with events specific to this fanfic underlined), as the games themselves have no definitive date, only 'X number of years'…

1973: Dahlia Gillespie, intending to bring forth the dark god of Silent Hill, burns her seven-year old daughter Alessa alive. The combination of the fire, and the agony Alessa goes through, effectively makes her the incubator of the dark god of Silent Hill. Alessa splits off half of her soul to prevent the birth of the dark god, and this half becomes an infant (later named Cheryl Mason) Harry Mason and his wife find on the edge of Silent Hill. The events of Silent Hill Origins would happen here.

Early to mid 1980: Harry Mason's wife dies. Alessa has a spell cast on her that summons her other half back to Silent Hill. The events of Silent Hill occur. Briefly, Cheryl asks her father to take her to the town, but they are involved in an accident shortly afterwards. Harry Mason, when he comes to, finds Cheryl missing, and searches the town for her. Dahlia deceives Harry into believing Alessa (who appears as the phantom of a teenaged girl, as she is fourteen by this point) is actually a demon who kidnapped Cheryl, and is trying to shroud the town in darkness, and urges him to use a special talisman on her before a sigil Alessa is creating is completed. Harry realises his mistake too late, and Dahlia forces Alessa and Cheryl to be fused together into one being once more, the Incubator. Dr Kaufmann, a former ally of Dahlia's who has become disillusioned with her cause, uses Aglaophotis to force the premature 'birth' of the dark god, a devilish being called the Incubus. Harry defeats the Incubus, and is given the chance to escape by the dying Alessa, who gives him another infant, a new incarnation of herself. He escapes with the new incarnation of Alessa/Cheryl.

July 1980: Fearing retribution from the Cult, Harry contacts his wife's relatives, and allows Lily Potter to adopt Cheryl, who is renamed Heather Potter.

Late 1997: The events of Silent Hill 3, and this story, take place. Heather is now 17, biologically. However, her soul and mind is now 31. And she still has the dark god of Silent Hill slumbering within her.

jgkitarel: Too true. This will be even more of the case as this fic goes on, as she will be the strongest influence on the town when she goes there.

1. This is the name given to him in a novelisation (published only in Japan, AFAIK).