Hit Wizards

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 29153

> Donna wrote:
> > What is the difference (or is there) between a hit wizard and an 
> > auror?  > 
>  
Pippin replied:

>    In GoF, Bill explains that an auror is a Dark Wizard catcher. 
But 
> later, Sirius says that during Voldemort's first reign of terror, 
the 
> aurors were given new powers...to kill rather than capture, and 
> that Crouch authorized the use of the unforgiveable curses 
> against suspects.
>   So I suppose when Fudge referred to trained hit wizards, he 
> meant  the  aurors who had been trained to use the 
> killing curse.  Whether the term "hit wizards" is also used to 
> refer to criminals, on the analogy of "hit man", we don't know.

That's very interesting, but I had a different interpretation.  As 
Pippin mentions, Crouch authorized aurors to use the unforgivable 
curses, and Sirius tells us that Moody always tried to bring people 
in alive where possible.  This implies that other aurors had quicker 
trigger fingers.  Because Sirius was apprehended as Voldemort fell 
(and presumably not by Moody), I suppose the order from Crouch was in 
effect when Sirius was apprehended.  If the hit wizards were the same 
as the aurors, they might have killed Sirius (or even tortured him 
for information) rather than just arresting him.

Consequently, I figured hit wizards were high level police officers 
(like a SWAT team) who respond to the scene of a brutal crime, 
whereas aurors are something different, perhaps akin to bounty 
hunters who are authorized to bring people in dead or alive.

Cindy (who thinks JKR's reference to "hit wizards" is really amusing 
and creative)