Chapter 118: The Scholarship Fund

Orli was immensely grateful that she had completed her intermediate Occlumency training just in time. Under Dumbledore's watchful gaze, she calmly recounted the story she had previously shared with the Weasley twins and Harry:

About a distant relative of the Waters family who had passed away, leaving her an inheritance and a potions shop, as well as her small trading ventures with the twins.

# Lucius: "Are you telling me you're running a potions business, buying potions at high prices from the Weasley children?"

Lucius's piercing gaze locked onto her.

# Lucius: "It appears your business is quite lucrative. A child's little game can actually sustain the entire Weasley clan. Show me your accounts; I need to verify them."

## Orli: "I don't believe any businessman would easily reveal their accounts."

Orli shot back without hesitation:

## Orli: "I can provide records of my transactions with the Weasley brothers. That should be sufficient."

Thankfully, ever since their transaction amounts had increased, she had asked Fred and George to open an account at Gringotts. Now, all their transfers were well-documented.

# Lucius: "A twelve-year-old running a potions shop?"

Lucius sneered.

# Lucius: "What's the name of your shop? And why have I never heard of it?"

## Orli: "I think, Mr. Malfoy, you don't oversee matters abroad."

Orli's tone was icy.

## Orli: "You're welcome to check all the transfers I've made to the Weasley family at Gringotts, and investigate whether I have any motive or suspicion of bribing Mr. Weasley. As for my family's business, that's a trade secret, and I'm afraid I cannot disclose it."

# Lucius: "Indeed, I have no interest in meddling with your little ventures. But it suddenly occurs to me that you—Orli Waters—have been listed as a recipient of the Board of Governors' scholarship."

Lucius spoke with deliberate slowness,

# Lucius: "And yet, you've inherited a fortune without reporting it. As a member of the Board of Governors, I have every reason to investigate your fraudulent claim of the scholarship."

## Orli: "Ha, I nearly forgot about that."

Orli let out an exaggerated cold laugh, pulling out thirteen Galleons and nine Sickles from her pocket and neatly placing them in front of Lucius.

## Orli: "Mr. Governor, this is all the scholarship and part-time wages I've received over the past two years. Truly a testament to the Malfoys' business acumen—using a pittance to buy the gratitude of poor students. Unfortunately, things don't always go as you wish."

# Lucius: "Do you think this is sufficient?"

Lucius's smile was faint but sharp:

# Lucius: "For a student who fraudulently claims a scholarship, the Board of Governors has every right to expel them."

# Dumbledore: "That's enough, Lucius."

Dumbledore's expression darkened as he interrupted:

# Dumbledore: "I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts. You have no authority to threaten any student in my presence."

# Lucius: "Oh? Then, Head—Master—"

Lucius turned to Dumbledore with a mocking tone:

# Lucius: "What do you propose we do with Waters?"

# Dumbledore: "Given that she has voluntarily admitted to inheriting a fortune and has already returned the scholarship, I believe no further action should be taken."

Dumbledore replied, turning to Orli:

# Dumbledore: "Additionally, her part-time job will be canceled."

Orli silently lowered her head, biting her lip hard. She knew Dumbledore had shown her the utmost leniency, but she still felt a lump in her throat and an unbearable sting in her eyes. She stared intently at a stain on the carpet, unwilling to let Lucius see the tears welling up. No one knew how much that part-time job meant to her. Ron even let out a small cheer for her, which only made her feel worse.

# Lucius: "You are always so magnanimous."

Lucius turned and kicked Dobby:

# Lucius: "Good day."

He twisted open the door, and Dobby scurried after him in a panic, only to be kicked out of the doorway once more. Everyone could hear Dobby's pained cries echoing down the corridor. Orli had no intention of stealing Harry's spotlight, but Harry stood there without making any move to chase after Lucius. Brushing aside her own sorrow, Orli harshly wiped her eyes with her sleeve and looked at Dumbledore:

## Orli: "Professor, I'm sorry, but I have something else to return to Mr. Malfoy."

Without waiting for Dumbledore's response, she hurried down the corridor, removing her outer robe as she went. The robe, having been rubbed against Hagrid for a full five minutes, was covered in animal fur and an unknown sticky substance. She balled it up into a crumpled rag and shouted at Lucius from the staircase corner:

## Orli: "Mr. Malfoy! I forgot to return something to you! This was also bought with the scholarship!"

Before he could react, she hurled the rag-like bundle from above, hitting Lucius squarely on the head.

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