CoS irrelevant?

[Laura <metslvr19@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48756

I begin with the necessary apologies if this has been discussed to 
death...but since OotP is (STILL) in the works, we have to resort to 
rehashing points anyway, right? =)

Am I missing some major plotline, or is CoS fairly irrelevant?  
Throughout the series, we see rising action and climax throughout the 
individual books, and rising action in the series as a whole.

For example, PS/SS served as an introduction to the characters and 
the wizarding world, and even showed us a bit of Voldemort.  PoA 
revealed much of the past, including the Prank, MWPP, more 
information about the death of Harry's parents (all of which we 
assume will become very important in the rest of the story), and also 
set up the return of a servant (wormtail) to Voldemort.  In GoF, 
Wormtail's release becomes pertinent, and we have the return of 
Voldemort.

But CoS?  Unless I'm missing something, it seems sort of out in the 
middle of nowhere.  Any thoughts?

-Laura