So DaSalvatore made the point that this story lacks structure, and he's right. So I've written an outline of where I want this to go in the future and aside from Lily's input I'm pretty sure where I am taking this. Hope you all enjoy.

Oh and the death eater the kids interrogated bled out from having his hand blown off, he was talking about raping a little girl before they attacked him, none of them had any interest in keeping him alive once they got what they needed from him. Not really important so I just thought I'd point out someone wasn't going to pop out of the woodwork accusing Harry of using an unforgivable on him.

One of the side benefits of being a half blood witch raised in both the mundane and magical worlds was the ability to retain a healthy amount of skepticism and an understanding that sometimes, crazy shit just happens and you need to accept that.

Tonks knew this when her little sis revealed her theory about Barty Crouch Junior giving orders to the collection of idiots that attacked the camps gathered for the Quidditch World Cup, because while it made sense in a way... Well...

She had a very solid way to know whether her cousins little interrogation meant anything or not, especially since the DMLE had come across the same information and was scrambling to find out how a long dead Death Eater was giving orders to his underlings.

Sighing Tonks knocked on the door and waited a minute or two, until Alice Longbottom finally cracked it open and upon seeing who was waiting on her porch swung the door wide grinning happily.

"Dora how good to see you! Come in come in! We haven't gotten to see much of you lately."

Tonks smiled at her aunt, for lack of better title, and stepped inside the manor home of the Longbottom clan while nodding slightly as she replied.

"I am sorry for that Alice, but unfortunately this is business related...and, well rather personal business at that. Is your husband about at the moment?"

Alice paused, then shook her head quickly, "He is on a rather exasperating case right now. Apparently during the commotion at the Quidditch World Cup someone used the chaos to raid several apothecaries. Tens of thousands of galleons worth of ingredients are missing, most of them...well...they should not have been legally able to carry to begin with. It is quite a huge mess being thrown at poor Frank's feet."

Tonks froze at that as several facts clicked into place, throwing caution to the wind she turned back towards Alice and quickly asked, "Barty Junior, could he have survived the night he attacked you?"

Alice went rigid, her smile fell, and her head cocked to the side as she replied in a flat tone, "If he could recover from having his lungs, heart, and most of his spine being sprayed across my best davenport, then yes."

"FUCK!" Tonks screamed out shocking Lady Longbottom as the metamorphmagus marched towards the floo, pausing a moment she glanced back at the now unsettled Alice and shot her a wan smile, "Sorry for bothering you, thanks for your time. The Ministry for Magic!" Tossing a pinch of powder she'd taken from the pot on the mantle into the fire she walked through the green flames, and a moment later Tonks stepped into the ministry atrium and made double time towards the DMLE.

Entering the department she glanced at the clerk manning the front desk and spat out, "Where's my aunt and uncle?!"

The clerk in question pointed towards the main meeting room which sported a sign stating 'DO NOT DISTURB' hanging from its door knob.

"Thanks," marching towards the room while pushing the guard standing before it aside with a belligerent, "Out of my way," Tonks slammed both doors open and approached her Aunt Amelia ignoring the politicians gathered at the table. Coming to parade rest she met Lady Black's gaze evenly as she saluted her.

"Junior Auror Tonks reporting ma'am! I figured out what caused the riot on the evening of August the eighteenth."

There was dead silence, then a sickly sweet voice spoke up, "Hem hem, you are not authorized to be here, a mere hal-"

"Shut it no one cares," Sirius stated flatly as he interrupted the pink clad woman who was visibly fuming as he turned his gaze towards Tonks, "Cousin?"

Tonks sighed as she crossed her arms and nodded, "Everyone was freaking out about the attack being orchestrated by a long dead Death Eater, so I decided to take it upon myself to ask the only couple who would know the truth of it. I went to ask Frank Longbottom on the status of Barty Junior but he wasn't home, his wife was though and she informed me that said Death Eater lost most of his upper torso during his home invasion.

"Meaning, there is no question that the man is dead and this entire investigation is one massive snipe hunt. She also informed me that Frank is working on the investigation of tens of thousands of galleons worth of potion ingredients being stolen during the evening riot which seems to indicate..."

Amelia facepalmed and muttered, "Good Goddess we're idiots..."

Sirius let out a tired sigh as he shook his head slowly, "All right then...the riot was a smoke screen, so what exactly needed an international embarrassment to be stolen?"

Tonks froze up, then relaxed slightly, "I have no idea, though with your permission I would like to collaborate with Senior Auror Longbottom to find out. Honestly the only reason this hasn't been brought up beforehand is because he was not part of this investigation to begin with thus was unaware of the suspected culprit."

"Granted," Amelia stated, she paused a moment then nodded towards her niece, "And well done Auror Tonks, dismissed."

Smirking Tonks saluted her aunt with a sharp, "Ma'am!" then spun on her heel leaving the room having no idea she had left a rather positive lasting impression on most of Magical Britain's leadership.

Dancia was brushing out her long hair trying to worry out the knots that had somehow managed to form while she was showering when her bedroom door slammed open. Glancing up she saw her sister in all but name march into the room and blinked rapidly as Dora stopped before her glaring down at the snow haired witch for a few moments, "We were so wrong. Alcohol?"

Tilting her head to the side in confusion Dany pointed to a small chest in the corner which her pink haired confidant quickly swung open and began rummaging through its contents.

"Seriously sis Witch Weekly and Cosmo?"

Dany bristled at that, "I happen to share a dorm room with several other girls and it's best to know what the hell they're talking about then remaining ignorant."

Dora rolled her eyes at that as she searched through her cousin's gathered clutter, "Uh huh, keep telling yourself that sweetie, ah ha!" Pulling out a bottle of amber liquid the older witch popped the cork and let out a flat, "Cheers!"

She was halfway done chugging the bottle of scotch when Dany rushed up towards her, "Heyheyhey that's mine!" Snatching the bottle from her cousin Dany stared at Dora in worry for a few moments before asking, "Hey...you ok?"

The young auror scoffed at that as she walked over to Dany's bed and fell on it with no grace to speak of, "No. The entire Barty Crouch angle was just a red herring, meant to waste everyone's time instead of pursuing the actual culprit. During the riots someone stole a shite tonne of highly regulated and expensive potion ingredients from several different apothecaries. With no one available to respond to the alarms, they got away free and clear, and what was stolen well..."

Dancia's eyes widened in fear as she took a sip from the bottle in her hands, "Sweet Circe...it...it..."

Dora sighed and snatched the bottle from her sister's hand and took another pull from it before replying, "It...it has begun..."

The journey back to Hogwarts was a subdued affair, nearly everyone was still walking on eggshells after the terrorist attack at the world cup and now more than ever it was clear what cliques were truly looking after themselves and none other. Harry had tried his best to look after the unsorted first years with the girls but it felt almost like it was too little too late really.

Everyone was scared, which honestly had likely been most of the point of the riots to begin with.

Still he tried to remain optimistic through most of the journey to Scotland while hanging out with his friends, even if it was super awkward with Luna curled on his lap like a cat while Mia and Dany both rested their heads on his shoulders as they napped. Sighing he met Neville's bemused gaze while shaking his head lightly.

"Anyone on the outside would think I'm trying to form a harem, but-"

Neville interrupted him with a laugh, "-but you're little more than an over glorified pillow. I know. So, Triwizard Tournament, what do you think?"

Harry scoffed at that, "No offense mate but I'm not a member of the house of the suicidely impulsive, I want no part in that damn blood sport."

Neville raised a brow at that as he dryly replied with, "Harsh, not all Gryffindors are that bad, but yeah with you there. Eternal glory and a thousand galleons...wee..."

Both boys were startled when Hermione spoke up, "I could not even tell you who the last champion was, me, so much for eternal glory."

"My spring wardrobe cost more then a thousand galleons, unimpressed," Dancia muttered before shifting closer to Harry and falling back to sleep in the process.

"Leprechauns, tiny fingers, gross..." Luna muttered as she stretched herself out across both girls and Harry's laps and soon began snoring.

Harry just stared down at her a few moments, glanced at both witches holding him close, and then met his brothers gaze evenly, "I haven't been able to feel my limbs for the past hour. Even if I tried to escape I'd never make it."

Neville had to bury his face in his robes to muffle his cackling laughter upon seeing the contrite scowl on Harry's face, honestly it was the little things in life that kept you going.

Wanted to write more but I was conscripted into helping my parents take care of their lawn today and need to take off. I sometimes wish I was heartless enough to let my 60 year old mother mow the lawn on her own but damnit...having a conscience is so inconvenient.