Dean again - Bill's living - JKR's activities

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 21128

ProfessorPhlash has opened the can of worms yet wider (and you did 
give a link, Professor--you're cleverer than you know).  Dean Thomas 
is not mentioned in the Philosopher's Stone version of "The Sorting 
Hat" at all (it would be p. 91 of the paperback, those of you too 
tired to link over to hpgalleries).  By the time Harry tunes back in 
after being Sorted himself,

  "And now there were only three people left to be sorted.  [NB:  This 
sentence exists in the US version, but it's a Flint, because the book 
then goes on to name Thomas, Turpin, Weasley, and Zabini.]  'Turpin, 
Lisa' became a Ravenclaw and then it was Ron's turn.  He was pale 
green by now . . ."  etc.

This doesn't mean Dean isn't there; Harry just isn't watching or 
listening, just as he isn't for the R's and S's who are probably in 
there somewhere; he's getting his hand shaken by Percy, his arm patted 
by Nick, etc.  But we're still ISO Dean's race in the UK edition (and 
his extreme height, for that matter--the US says he's "even taller 
than Ron," a descriptor that I don't believe shows up anywhere else in 
the books).  Other references, anyone?

Lisa wrote:

>And what the heck is a "charm-breaker" at Gringotts?  <snip>  Maybe 
he raids Egyptian tombs like Indiana Jones.

Great posts, Lisa! 

I think the Indiana Jones stuff is pretty much what Bill does, yes 
(minus the smashing every ancient artifact he comes across, I hope).  
The UK PA (ch. 1) refers to him as a "curse-breaker," which is 
distinctly "cool," IMHO.  Maybe that's what Harry will do with his 
DADA talent, once he's done defeating Voldemort of course.  I picture 
treasure all over the world protected by curses that only skilled 
witches and wizards know how to lift; Muggles who ignore them, or try 
to counteract them, end up with multiple heads (same chapter, a 
favorite image of mine).  Anyway, as to pay, it may pay very well.  It 
would be nice to think that Bill can help the family out by sending 
some of his pay home to Mom.

CMC wrote:

>I worry that at this very moment she's not writing "Phoenix" but is 
>instead firing off another memo to Warners' about a flaw in the 
>script or inadequate lighting in the first Great Hall scene.

Me too, me too . . . She says her favorite things to do in the world 
are (a) spend time with her daughter and (b) write.  Now she has a 
beau, we may fairly add (c) spending time with =him=; okay, it can 
even rank above writing if it must, but I hope and pray that fiddling 
with the interior workings of Hollywood remains a distant fourth and 
she finishes this book before I go insane.

One could argue that my worry about this kind of thing, as well as my 
worry that she's holed up in her study killing characters I like, are 
in fact signs the damage is already done, but never mind.

Amy Z

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 "I've told you before, Ron, keep your nose out 
 if you like it the shape it is.  Can't see why
 you would, but--"
                 -HP and the Goblet of Fire 
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