GIP

I rarely do GIPs, but this so deserves it.

Flist Cleaning!

Cleaned out my Flist some! Don't worry, I just removed dead journals, abandoned journals and deleted journals. I don't defriend people without letting them know why - even it's just a 'I've never spoken to you, don't know why you're here.'

I am very pleased with the reaction to my Severus/Narcissa fic. I'd never written explicit het like that before, and I'm glad it went over well. I may well write more of it. ;)

Just a note for people who have me on Y!M - I'm always on under invisible, so chances are I'm around even if you don't see me.

Also, another GIP.

Drabble!

Tonks Drabble for aurors100, started by the lovely cordeliadelayne. Go join!

Auror Musings

I was looking up the list of Aurors on the Lexicon, and I found the exact requirements for Auror training and the screening process. And the more I look at it, the more I am convinced that the Auror department more closely resembles the FBI than any other law enforcement division.

'Training to be an Auror takes three years after leaving Hogwarts; the Aurors ask for a minimum of five N.E.W.T.s, with nothing under "Exceeds Expectations" grade. Apart from Defence Against the Dark Arts, the recommended N.E.W.T.s include Charms, Potions (particularly the study of poisons and antidotes), and Transfiguration (OP29).

If a candidate for Auror training has the required academic qualifications, he or she must pass a background check for a criminal record, and must pass "a stringent series of character and aptitude tests at the Auror office." These tests assess skill in practical defense, perserverance and dedication, and the ability to react well to stress.'

The training time, the sorts of testing they go through, the stringent weeding process... it all reads like FBI screening and training. FBI training requires the same sort of aptitude tests - though with added testing for psychological performance. They also require top marks, same as the Auror program, and require knowledge in various fields. Further evidence that supports my idea of a parallel:

'The Hit Wizards are not the same as Aurors. Hit Wizards, it would seem, are sent primarily against criminals while Aurors track down and capture Dark Wizards.'

Hit wizards are to Aurors as the police are to the FBI. Hit wizards deal with regular criminals whereas Aurors deal with the most dangerous of the dangerous, the Dark Wizards. Not that there's any theory behind this or anything, it was just something that jumped out at me.

ETA: Another parallel - The Aurors, despite having a head of their department, seem to answer to the Minister. There's evidence of this primarily in HBP. I know there's people on my Flist who haven't finished, so I won't say anything more.

And now I promise I will stop spamming.

Bowled Over....

I've been invited to join erotic_elves.

I honestly don't know what to say right now. For anyone who doesn't know what erotic_elves is, it's the sister community to pornish_pixies. It's a primarily invitation based art and fan fiction community devoted to bringing quality R and NC-17 rated het to the HP fandom.

I am seriously bowled over right now.