Harry Potter and the Flip of a Niccal

By: KKM

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series or any associated characters. Harry Potter is © J. K. Rowling. I also do not own the Gorillaz or any associated characters/songs. Gorillaz are © Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett.

Comments:

Nami: I'm really excited for this chapter too! I hope you like it!

Last Time:

"What will we tell the others?" Harry asked as he made his way to the door wanting very much to go back upstairs to his bed. He didn't care that it was probably only mid-afternoon. He was tired!

"Eh, we'll get to it when we get there," Murdoc waved him away as he slumped over on his comfy recliner. He'd barely landed on the beat up cushion before a snore escaped his mouth. Harry shook his head in amusement before slipping back out to the carpark. Surprisingly he didn't run into anyone on his way to his room.

Before collapsing on his bed, he took a moment to look over his new features and found that he kind of liked the new changes. If he wasn't so sleepy he'd have looked some more but he could barely stand up straight anymore. Giving in, he flopped down onto his bed with a sigh and let his dreams carry him away.

He knew there'd probably be a lot to discuss soon, but he'd worry about it later when he was more awake.

(Page Break)

Chapter 6: The Cat's out of the Bag

Harry groaned sleepily as the sound of shouting from somewhere tugged him from the deep sleep he'd been enjoying. He felt a lot better than he had before the blood adoption, but his muscles were still tired and achy. He glanced at the clock on his nightstand and laughed quietly to himself. He'd only been asleep for a little over four hours and yet he felt completely energized as he rolled off of his bed and stretched. Since he was a bit taller now, his new clothes were already slightly too short so he went ahead and tossed away the red shirt he'd been wearing and rifled through his closet to find some of the old shirts 2D and Murdoc had given him before. He found a navy shirt with a yellow ducky that had gotten tangled in tape. Below the picture was a caption that read, "Duck Tape." His pants were still okay. He was still limber enough to wear them comfortably even though they were a little short now and showed his ankles.

He would have liked to have had the time to glance at himself one more time in the mirror since he hadn't had much of a chance to take in his new appearance since the night before, but the shouting from the other room hadn't stopped yet and his curiosity was getting the better of him. Frowning, he quickly exited his room and slipped down the hall.

He found the source of the noise in the entrance room. He stayed in the shadows of the hall for a moment so that he could observe what was happening. Years of living with the Dursley's had taught him to enter rooms like this with caution. Russel was having a heated argument at the front door where a furious looking old lady in what appeared to be a long green Halloween robe of some sort was jabbing him in the chest with her boney finger. Behind Russel, 2D and Noodle were standing off to the side looking equally as tense. 2D looked to be on the edge of having a nervous breakdown as his head bobbed sideways back and forth between the arguing pair. His long, spidery fingers were fidgeting shakily in front of him. Noodle was standing absolutely still on high alert. She was frowning fiercely with her brows knitted in concentration as she listened carefully to what they were saying.

In the short time Harry had been with the Gorillaz, he had learned not to underestimate Noodle. She was a lot smarter than he had originally given her credit for. When he'd first met her, he'd wrongly assumed that she only spoke Japanese and had been worried that there might be a language barrier even though she at least appeared to understand English. But it turned out that Noodle was just as cautious as him, if not more so. She had purposely allowed him to think that way at first because he was a stranger. It turned out that she actually did know how to speak English, it was just very broken and she hated it when the boys teased her about it. So instead, she usually just answered them in Japanese which always seemed to piss Murdoc off to no end. But from what 2D had told him the other day, Noodle was actually rather pleased because over time the boys had started to understand some of the things she was saying and had begun to continue in conversation with her as if it was perfectly normal. The breakthrough had apparently happened during the world tour for their band. Since then, there wasn't as many misunderstandings and Noodle was pleased that she could still hold onto something from her heritage even though she'd apparently been suffering from amnesia and couldn't actually remember anything after tumbling out of her FedEx box. That in itself had been an amazing story. Harry hadn't believed it was true until Russel had confirmed it. He'd thought 2D and Noodle had been trying to pull one over on him at first.

Shaking his head distractedly, Harry kept in his hiding spot and lifted his gaze from the pensive Noodle to the argument at hand. His eyebrows lifted in surprise and concern when he realized the fight was about him.

"Mister Hobbs, I assure you I plan to take Mister Potter back to Hogwarts with me this instant!" The old woman hissed, her mouth forming a strict line that made Harry think of an enraged nun about to whack a student with a ruler. "This is absolutely absurd! Mister Potter was practically kidnapped from his home. He cannot stay in this- this awful place." She scowled, her eyes lingering on a small pile of discarded pizza boxes that had obviously been sitting in that particular corner for a long time. She nearly turned green when a small cockroach scurried from the one on top and disappeared into one toward the bottom. "This is no place for a child. It's absolutely filthy here!"

"I understand your concerns," Russel replied through gritted teeth trying very hard not to lose his temper, "But I can't let you just take him without any authority ma'am. You don't even have any paperwork that says you can take him and we're not letting him go back to that hellhole he lived in before."

"This is no place for a child. It's absolutely filthy here!" The woman continued to rant, "Not to mention that the place reeks of necromancy. Don't think I haven't seen those things outside."

Harry nearly yelped in surprise as a clawed hand suddenly rested on his shoulder. He looked up to find Murdoc beside him listening in on the conversation as well. The older man looked down and gave the boy's shoulder a squeeze before letting go and entering the room only far enough so he could lean casually against the doorframe of the hall. He crossed his ankles casually with a rebellious cigarette dangling from his lips and his arms crossed as his mismatches eyes took in the room with a slightly smug twinkle to them. Harry got the strange idea that the older man had expected this confrontation and was prepared to enjoy it. He cautiously moved forward a little so that he too was now in view, but still behind Murdoc's protection.

"I'll 'ave you know, those zombies came as a bonus with tha' real-estate," Murdoc stated with a smirk, successfully capturing everyone's attention as all eyes suddenly zoned in on him. "Long time no see, Professa' McGonagall."

"Murdoc Niccals," Professor McGonagall sniffed, her nose crinkling as if she'd sniffed something particularly fowl. "I wish I could say it was a pleasure, but we both know it would be a lie. You had so much potential."

"Ah, yesss. Potential." Murdoc cackled nastily as he stood up straight and walked toward her. Russel backed away slightly with a frown and moved to join the other two as bystanders though he was prepared to jump back in the fray if needed. "But that's no' really enough fer your fancy little boarding school, now is it? Heheh."

Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes and gave him her most stern look. "Be that as it may, you could have made something of yourself. I've heard all about you and your dangerous shenanigans," she said, giving a pointed look toward the singer who audibly gulped as they made eye contact. He practically sagged in relief when the older woman released him from her iron gaze. "Dark Arts, Satanism, drug problems, alcohol abuse, physical abuse, kidnapping, midnight escapades… is there anything illegal you haven't done? It's a wonder you've managed to stay free this long. But I dare say it won't last. Yes, I know all about how you turned out and I'm not about to let you corrupt that innocent boy."

"Oh, ge' off yer high-horse, you sandy cunt!" Murdoc growled, his arms uncrossing allowing his balled fists to drop to his sides as he bared his jagged discolored teeth at her. "Don't pretend fer a second that you eva' gave a shit about how I turned out. You more than anyone coulda' put a stop to it all."

Harry wasn't sure what Murdoc was talking about and it looked like the other Gorillaz besides Russ looked confused as well. Professor McGonagall apparently understood the message loud and clear though as he face paled before her cheeks flushed bright red the next.

"To be able to change, you must first want to change and I'm not sure that you ever did," she replied shrewdly, "No matter; the past cannot be changed. The facts are that Mister Potter does not belong here and in a few minutes Albus will arrive and we will take Harry to safety."

Murdoc laughed mirthlessly at her and shook his head. "Yer a bloody liar," he muttered before taunting her again. "Where was Harry's so-called 'safety' when 'e was left with those awful muggles? Who was supposed ter be keepin' an eye on 'im all these years, eh? Was it you? If so, you did a righ' shit job 'o that, didn' ya?" he spat his cigarette to the ground and stomped on it with his boot. "Yer lil' school only gives a shit about those who 'ave enough money to go there. Don't give me any o' this bullshit about how they give safety to those in need or you'd 'ave taken me the nigh' you met my father," he finished with a low, dangerous voice that made everyone in the room go still.

While everyone in the room stood frozen like statues, Harry's mind was reeling. Was he hearing right? Had Murdoc been in a similar position to what he'd been going through and this woman had refused to help him because of something as trivial as money? That didn't sit well with him at all. Yes, he had always known that Murdoc had been fairly rough around the edges and had most likely done some deplorable things in his life, but at the same time Harry had seen that he older man was more complex than that. In his own snarky way he did seem to care about them. Maybe Kong wasn't the nicest place in the world, but it was a home. Murdoc wasn't the nicest person to live with, but he still made sure that they all had everything that they needed. Without Murdoc, Harry was sure that right this very moment he'd be locked away in his little cupboard wondering what freedom was like and if it was half as great as the telly. If Harry and Murdoc roles were reversed, would he have been denied entry too? Did they only want him because of that Voldy guy Murdoc had said murdered his family? Did they only want him now because he was suddenly famous? Where had they been before when he needed help the most?

The air around everyone suddenly felt heavy and thick with static as Harry stepped out of his hiding place and glared up at professor McGonagall with determination. "I decline going with you. My home is here and I'm not going to go anywhere with you or this Albus person," he said calmly. His emerald eyes with ebony rings around the irises made him look even fiercer than before. Several gasps were released around the room. 2D and Noodle were eyeing his new appearance in confusion while Russel appeared more curious and slightly troubled over it. Even though Harry still looked like a Potter, Russel could see that the small changes in him made him resemble their leader in a strange way. His milky gaze shifted over to Murdoc whose eyes were blazing with pride and smugness.

Professor McGonagall, who had only seen Harry recently a few times in her animagus form, did not seem to notice the changes. As a cat it was hard to judge height. As for the child's other minor changes, because of the static in the air she'd easily written them off as the effects of his accidental magic.

"Harry, you don't know what you are saying. It's too dangerous here. We need to leave at once," she said in a more soothing voice. Her eyes were not cold when she looked at him, but instead appeared warm and perhaps somewhat pitying.

He didn't need her pity.

"No, ma'am," Harry shook his head again. "I think it's you who doesn't understand. I don't know whatever past you have with him, but I don't appreciate you talking to my family like this." At the word family, Professor McGonagall flinched and opened her mouth to rebuttal, but Harry beat her to the punch. "They are my family now. These people have shown me more kindness in the short time that they've known me than I can even count having ever received on one hand. This man," he gestured toward Murdoc, "saved my life and deserves respect. It is you who are trespassing here." His face softened only slightly when he saw her stricken face and he sighed. "Look, I know you seemed to have come here with good intentions but I'm happy here. This is where I belong."

"But Mister Potter, there's so much that you don't understand. There is a man in our world whose supporters would be eager to get ahold of you and you need your education," she tried to reason. "This man is practically an outlaw. You wouldn't be safe here."

"Voldemort doesn't scare me," Harry said evenly, causing the Professor to shudder at the sound of his name. He would have added more to that, but a second unwelcomed guest had appeared in the doorway.

"That is quite enough." His voice was soft and yet firm at the same time. But Harry wasn't paying attention to the much older man's voice. Instead, he was busy gaping at his appearance. His beard was so long that it hung to the man's waist and his robe and hat were a bright royal blue with purple trim. A pair of half-moon spectacles were resting on his crooked nose causing his bright blue eyes to magnify behind the lenses. This man looked every bit like what Harry imagined that all wizards should be. He remembered when he was in school how the other children would tell stories about wizards like Gandalf and Merlin from fiction books their parents had read them. The descriptions of those wizards to the one standing in front of him now dulled in comparison. "Harry, my name is Professor Dumbledore. You will be coming with us. I'm sorry it has to be this way."

Harry noticed that the older man was about to pull something from his robe and did the first thing that came to mind – he dove behind a surprised looking Murdoc as the old man swished his wand high over his head and shouted, "Obliviate!"

Harry stayed trembling behind Murdoc and squeezed his eyes shut as a bright light flashed into the room, his earlier braveness forgotten. He felt Murdoc tense in front of him, but then the bassist relaxed and let out a chuckle. "Is that all, old man?"

Harry peeked his eyes open in confusion and then looked over to see Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall both gaping at them all in confusion. Harry looked around the room seeing that Murdoc looked positively gleeful, 2D looked confused, and Russel and Noodle both just looked pissed.

"Um, wos tha' supposed to do somefing?" 2D asked, looking at the wizard with confused hallow eyes. He scratched his head and scrunched his brow as if in deep thought before shrugging. "Nuffin feel different. I din' much like that bright light though."

"H-how is that possible?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking pale. While she didn't approve of what Albus had just tried to do, it frightened her that a spell from such a powerful wizard hadn't worked.

Professor Dumbledore's eyes no longer twinkled as he looked around the room with a befuddled frown.

"Nice try, old man, but you'll 'ave ter do betta' than that," Murdoc leered at them, his red eye glinting in delight. "I've go' friends in higher places than you," he said ominously before nodding to the rest of the band. "And good luck tryin' ter do away with this lot. The fat one's possessed by the spirits o' the undead. That idiot," he pointed behind him at 2D with his clawed thumb, "doesn't 'ave a brain left to erase. An' who the hell knows why it didn' work on the girl. I'm sure it's something equally as weird," he rolled his eyes before focusing back on the two disbelieving professors. "I tend to collect all the misfits tha' don't fit in either world, in case yeh hadn't noticed."

"Yes, well," Professor Dumbledore took off his glasses a moment, cleaning them in agitation with the sleeve of his robe before focusing his attention back onto the green man. "Be that as it may, we must take Harry back to his relatives. They are his legal guardians and it would not be safe for him to stay here."

"What!?" Harry exclaimed, shooting McGonagall a betrayed look. Hadn't Professor McGonagall just said that he would be going to a school instead? And now this man was here saying the opposite? "I'm not going back to them. I hate it there!" He frantically looked up at Murdoc, hoping beyond hope that what the older man had said was true and that they wouldn't be able to take him because of the blood adoption. He was relieved to see that Murdoc still looked just as arrogant as before as if he was biding his time and waiting for the older man to lay down all of his cards.

"Sometimes we have to make the best of situations we don't like, Harry," Albus tried to explain. "I assume that since you know who Voldemort is, then you know he killed your parents?" Harry nodded slowly, wondering where the old wizard was going with this. "The night your mother died, she placed a special protection on you that allows you to be safe so long as you are living with a blood relative. At your Aunt and Uncle's you would be safe and no one would be able to harm you."

"Not be able to harm me?" Harry exploded again, his temper getting wildly out of control again. "What about those inside the residence? Have you even met my family!?"

"Now, Harry I'm sure it's not so bad," Albus said, putting up his hand as Harry tried to interrupt again. "If you don't come with me right now, I will have to contact the Ministry. I'm sure the Aurors would be interested to know your whereabouts, Mr. Niccals," Albus threatened.

Harry stepped backwards in horror. This man wasn't listening to him. He didn't understand anything that Harry was trying to say. His vision was swimming as he fought hard not to cry. He didn't know what Aurors were, but he didn't want his new father to be taken away from him either. Noodle appeared at his side and pulled him back toward 2D and Russel as he hugged him from the side tightly and glared.2D, in a rare moment of clarity, also seemed to realize how serious the situation was as he and Russel leaned forward protectively as if they planned to fight anyone that would try to take Harry away.

Murdoc stayed exactly as he was, looking unconcerned as he held the older wizard's threatening gaze. "Ohhh, I wouldn't do tha' if I were you. Heheh," He broke the other man's gaze and plucked another cigarette from his pocket. He made a show of lighting it and taking a long drag with a pleased groan before blowing the smoke into the other man's face rudely. "Do you know wot this is, Dumbles?" he asked, holding up his hand to show them the small scar on the palm of his hand. "Show them yours too, kid." Harry didn't move from Noodle's grasp as he lifted his palm up to show his twin scar.

Albus' eyes looked from Murdoc's hand to Harry's before widening in understanding as he looked closer at Harry. The boy still looked like a Potter, but now it was clear that he also resembled a Niccals.

"Merlin's beard," Minerva mumbled, "What have you done…?"

"I did wha' was necessary," Murdoc told them, taking another drag. "Let me make this very clear to you. Harry is stayin' right here at Kong. By tha' time you lot leave, this place will be unplottable. If yeh involve the Ministry in this little crusade of yers, I'll tell 'em exactly what condition I found 'im in and how no one bothered checkin' on the Chosen One's well-being all these years. I'm willin' ter bet tha' your name'll come up in that discussion somewhere and you'll be held fully responsible." He paused, taking a couple more puffs before continuing. "As fer the protection, I think you're smart enough to recognize a blood adoption when yeh see one. It's been completed correctly, I assure you. Tha' means I share blood with him and his protections will remain in place. Any questions?"

"B-but!" Minerva was momentarily speechless. "Albus, this is outrageous! Surely there's something you can…" she trailed off, seeing that the headmaster's face had become rather grim. Instead she turned to Harry. "Harry, surely you can see that this man has duped you? He's no father – just look at him!" Her Scottish accent was more pronounced as her voice raised an octave. "Lilly and James would be so disappointed…"

"How dare you," Harry practically hissed as he shook Noodle off of him and stepped forward. "How do you know what they'd want? Do you think they'd enjoy the idea of me living with a family that hates and beats me? Murdoc was right about you. You only want me to come with you for selfish reasons. These are the first people who have ever treated me nicely. I'll never replace my parents, nor do I want to. But I have a chance to have a dad now and a somewhat normal life. I've dreamed about this my whole life and you people only care about taking me away again," he looked up at Murdoc and sighed. "I think we're through here," he told him before turning and walking passed the others and disappearing toward his room.

"You heard 'im," Murdoc growled, "leave now or we'll make you leave."

Dumbledore and McGonagall looked around at the others one more time before shaking their heads and turning away. "This is a mistake, Mister Niccals. You will see that someday," Albus warned as they made their exit.

"Yeah, yeah," Murdoc waved them away, "An' don't let the door hitcha' on yer arse on the way out!" he shouted at them. In the distance they could hear to pops signaling what Murdoc knew was disappiration.

"Maaan, I knew you were gonna' do somethin' crazy," Russel said with a sigh, rubbing his forehead.

"I told you that I always get what I want," he replied with a snot. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to ward the building from more intruders."

"Bu' wot 'bout 'Arry?" 2D asked, with a nervous frown.

"Just leave him be for now. When I'm done, I'll talk ter him," Murdoc assured them as he pressed the button for the lift so he could go back to his Winnie and look up the proper spells he'd need.

Meanwhile Noodle had already snuck out of the room and had followed Harry to his room. When she cautiously opened the door, she found Harry upset and sitting on the edge of his bed staring at nothing. She bit her lip and slipped into the room and sat next to him in silent support.

"Thanks, Noodle." He muttered before becoming silent again. They stayed like that for a long while waiting until Murdoc would come.

A/N: This chapter was actually the very first scene I dreamed about that inspired me to write this story. I always thought the idea of Dumbledore trying to Obliviate them and it not working would be funny. Can you imagine the look on his face? I really think it wouldn't work on them for multiple reasons. Murdoc is immortal and has a deal with the devil that would protect him. I would imagine that since spirits reside in Russel's head, his mind would be pretty well protected. For 2D since he already has problems from his multiple head traumas, I doubt obliviation would work because he's already too used to having his head scrambled. As for Noodle, since she's a super soldier and meditates a lot she may have natural barriers that protect her mind automatically. If you're curious as to why Harry wasn't affected, it's because he hid behind Murdoc who was able to protect them both.

What do you think?