Harry Potter: Shippuden

Wait! His father wasn't Monkey D. Dragon, and he had no intention of becoming the Pirate King.

The Wizarding World's Asura?

Wait! His father wasn't Madara Uchiha, and Dumbledore wasn't Hashirama Senju.

Kyle reeled in his wandering thoughts. "So… where is he now? Why has he never come to find me?"

As he spoke, a hint of resentment crept into Kyle's voice, even though he had no emotional attachment to the father he'd never met.

But anyone who'd been abandoned in an orphanage for six years, forced to fend for themselves at the age of six, would naturally feel some bitterness.

Even if he was doing well now, Kyle couldn't help but harbor some resentment toward Gellert Grindelwald.

Unconsciously, the two had crossed the castle's courtyard and arrived at the grand entrance.

Dumbledore stood at the castle doors, his expression tinged with sorrow.

"It's not your father's fault. He wanted to, but he couldn't."

Dumbledore's thin, aged hand rested on Kyle's golden hair. "In 1945, I defeated him. Since then, he has imprisoned himself in Nurmengard, never leaving the castle."

Kyle was stunned. So his father, whom he'd never met, was in prison? And it was this white-bearded old man who'd put him there?

"What about my mother?"

When Kyle mentioned "mother," he noticed a flicker of discomfort cross Dumbledore's face.

Kyle quickly guessed there might be some sensitive history there and changed the subject.

"What about my identity… won't taking me in cause trouble for you?"

Being the son of a dark wizard could attract unwanted attention, and Kyle was subtly fishing for protection.

After all, Dumbledore wouldn't abandon him, and who better to shield him than the man standing before him?

But Dumbledore's response surprised him:

"If you're willing, your name in the Hogwarts student registry will be Kyle Dumbledore."

"When you're strong enough to stand on your own, you can reclaim the Grindelwald name."

Well, a name change solved the problem, and with the Dumbledore surname, he could practically strut through Hogwarts without a care.

"I'm honored, Professor," Kyle said with a grin.

It seemed Dumbledore and his father had indeed been close, or else Dumbledore wouldn't have made such an offer.

Dumbledore smiled and patted Kyle's shoulder. "Come, let's head to the Great Hall for breakfast."

…

The Great Hall of Hogwarts.

By the time Kyle and Dumbledore arrived, the students of Hogwarts were already seated at the four long tables, the room illuminated by thousands of floating candles.

The tables were laden with gleaming silverware and an array of delicious dishes. For breakfast, the spread was almost too lavish.

Oatmeal, bread rolls, orange juice, kippers, eggs and bacon, toast, buttered jam bread, cornflakes…

Having spent years in an orphanage, Kyle had assumed that foreigners' breakfasts were usually just bread with jam and a glass of milk.

Now he realized it was just that the orphanage was too poor to afford anything better.

At the head of the hall was a raised platform with a long table for the teachers.

Kyle, dressed in Muggle clothes, stood out starkly among the sea of students in their wizard robes.

As he hesitated, Dumbledore's gentle voice reached his ears.

"You can join me at the staff table or sit at any of the house tables."

Faced with the curious stares of the students and the unfamiliar faces, Kyle decided it was best to stick with Dumbledore.

"Professor, I'll join you," Kyle said, quickening his pace to catch up with Dumbledore.