"Dad, I can serve as the substitute professor for this course, but I have a few requirements."
Dumbledore sat up a bit straighter. "Speak."
"First," Kyle held up his index finger, "I will not follow the traditional teaching content to instruct them on how to defend against the harm of Dark Wizards."
"Since you are letting me serve as the substitute professor, the content and methods of study must be handled according to my wishes."
Dumbledore pondered for a moment. This request wasn't impossible, provided there was one prerequisite—
"You cannot teach them the Dark Arts."
Kyle agreed without a second thought. He hadn't planned on teaching them the Dark Arts anyway.
What Dumbledore didn't know, however, was that the things his son intended to teach were far more dangerous than the Dark Arts.
"Second," Kyle tilted his head, "the name 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' is far too unlucky. I want to change it."
It wasn't that Kyle was particularly afraid of Voldemort's curse on the position; after all, when it came to attainments in the Dark Arts, could Voldemort really be stronger than his old man, Gellert?
But Kyle didn't want to be headstrong enough to pit his own small frame against Old Voldy's curse.
What if something went wrong and he ended up biting the dust?
So, it was better to just change the name.
Dumbledore's face was filled with confusion. What kind of requirement was this?
A glint of excitement flashed in Kyle's eyes. "During my time as a substitute, the name of this course will be changed to 'Muggle Art Appreciation.'"
As for what kind of "art" it was?
One only had to look at the current state of the two Weasley children to find out.
The expression on Dumbledore's face turned a bit strange. He didn't understand what kind of scheme his son was cooking up.
"Fine."
"One last requirement," Kyle's fingers brushed against his coffee cup, "I want two people to serve as my teaching assistants."
He paused. "George and Fred."
"The two Weasley brothers? Such a simple request is completely—"
Dumbledore was just about to agree, but he instantly remembered what the Weasley brothers had already turned into under Kyle's leadership.
The white-bearded old man shook his head vigorously. "No!"
"Don't you think that using alchemical firearms for self-defense is a better choice for these students?"
Kyle spread his hands. "Even if they learn the Shield Charm perfectly, it won't stop an Avada Kedavra. Besides, many of them still can't even cast Protego by their fifth year..."
Dumbledore still shook his head in refusal.
He raised his voice: "I allow you to research those things at Hogwarts because you know what boundaries shouldn't be crossed, but the other students are not as sensible as you."
Kyle shrugged noncommittally.
"I will only teach them how to use Muggle firearms; I won't let them own them, nor will I let them come into contact with those dangerous explosives Fred manufactures."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"We can implement a separation of firearms and ammunition, just like a Muggle army."
"In addition, during non-teaching hours, the firearms and ammunition will be kept in my suitcase, strictly sealed with magic."
Dumbledore didn't speak, signaling Kyle to continue.
"As long as we place anti-disassembly and secrecy-protection charms on the firearms, we can ensure the students won't be able to replicate them."
Observing Dumbledore's expression, Kyle spread his hands and added another point:
"Even if their Defense Against the Dark Arts studies go perfectly, you don't actually think they'll have the power to resist the Death Eaters when Voldemort makes his comeback in the future, do you?"
Dumbledore sat up straight. Thoughts flickered through his eyes, which were as blue as lake water, as he seriously considered Kyle's suggestion.
Seeing this, Kyle struck while the iron was hot. "If they can learn to use firearms, then as long as they master the Shield Charm, that would be the prototype of a modern wizarding army..."
"A wizarding legion?"
Dumbledore suddenly stopped thinking. He looked up at the eager "Little Dark Lord" before him, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.
"Kyle Grindelwald, tell me, is your true goal to build an army?"
Generally speaking, when your parent calls you by your full name, it means you're in big trouble.
Kyle gave a sheepish smile. "That... Dad, listen to my explanation!"
Ten minutes later, Kyle emerged from the Headmaster's office carrying an appointment letter.
At Kyle's request, the "Position" column on the appointment letter read: Professor of Muggle Art Appreciation.
As for the original DADA... that class would simply have to be suspended.
Although he really wanted to go to the Gryffindor common room to announce the good news to the two firepower maniacs—that they had been gloriously selected as TAs—he considered the current time.
It was three in the morning.
Kyle eventually abandoned that plan.
At this hour, it was better to go back to the common room and sleep.
Since the crisis at Hogwarts had been resolved, the students who had been sleeping in the Great Hall for several nights were allowed to return to their respective common rooms.
The Slytherin students had returned as well.
There was still a Basilisk wandering outside, but the passage in their common room leading to the Chamber of Secrets had been strictly sealed by several professors working together.
Detection arrays had also been placed in the common room. If there was any movement in the sealed secret passage, the professors would know immediately.
So, staying in the dormitories was quite safe.
Early the next morning, the Ministry of Magic's Aurors arrived at Hogwarts.
They brought Hagrid back with them.
In addition to the Aurors and Hagrid, Hogwarts welcomed another uninvited guest—Lucius Malfoy.
Kyle, returning from his morning run, happened to run into him at the castle's main entrance. Lucius looked absolutely livid.
A house-elf covered in bandages followed behind him, trembling.
Harry was chasing after them with a pair of stinking socks.
A dangerous light flashed in Kyle's eyes. Hadn't he said before that he wanted to find someone to break three of Lucius's legs?
Ignoring the grievances between the Potter and Malfoy families, Kyle stepped forward and approached Dumbledore, who was standing by the entrance of the Great Hall.
"Professor, how can you tolerate such a fly buzzing around in front of you?"
Dumbledore wanted to reach out and ruffle Kyle's hair, but Kyle dodged.
He could only sigh helplessly. "Violence doesn't solve all problems..."
"But violence can solve most problems," Kyle pursed his lips. "As long as I reveal the surname Grindelwald, I guarantee it would scare the living daylights out of him."
He didn't intentionally lower his voice, and several passing students heard his words.
Of course, due to the Ministry's news blockade, they didn't know what the name Grindelwald signified.
Only the "smart little beaver" was an exception; she seemed to remember hearing the name Grindelwald somewhere before.
Hearing Kyle's words, the expression on Dumbledore's face became a bit awkward.
After looking around and confirming there was no one else nearby, Dumbledore spoke:
"Kyle, we've talked about this before. It's still a little too early for you to expose your true surname."
Kyle shrugged indifferently.
Currently, his strength wasn't enough to rank among the top tier of the Wizarding World, but self-preservation wasn't much of an issue.
Furthermore, the Acolytes under his old man had begun to become active in the Wizarding World again, so there wasn't much need to deliberately hide his true surname anymore.
Of course, he wasn't stupid enough to tell everyone he met that he was the son of Grindelwald.
Dumbledore smiled kindly. "Lucius won't be buzzing around for much longer. I have contacted the other School Governors and intend to have him removed from the board."
A flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from outside the entrance hall. Kyle turned to look and saw Harry returning with an incredibly ugly house-elf.
The stinking socks in his hand were gone. So, he had used a pair of foul socks to trade Lucius for a house-elf?
Dumbledore patted Kyle's shoulder. "Go and join the celebration. You are, after all, the hero who defended Hogwarts."
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