Regarding Bill

[erinellii]

No: HPFGUIDX 87160

 "Rose W.": 
>    Hello! I joined this list a few days ago and have
> noticed several comments about Bill (will he betray
> the good side, why is there such an age gap between
> him and Charlie and the rest of the family). 
>    Since both Bill and Charlie seem to have been
> "skipped" in the movies (they aren't mentioned once,
> right?) is it likely that they will ever have an
> extremely significant role? I'm inclined to think not.


Erin:

First, off, the movies are not the books.  They left out several 
scenes in CoS that would have made the story more coherent overall, 
IMO.  Also, they've only done the first two movies so far.  And Bill 
& Charlie aren't mentioned much in the first 2 books.  That doesn't 
mean they won't become important later on.

I agree with you about Charlie.  He's already served two small 
functions in the narative. He's taken care of Norbert for Hagrid, and 
he let Hagrid (and therefore Harry) get a glimpse of the dragons 
before the first task. He's unlikely to do anything more significant.

But what has Bill done so far?  Absolutely nothing that advances the 
plot.  Sure, we know some things about him.  He works for Gringotts, 
he doesn't trust sneak-o-scopes, he's dating Fleur, he came to the 
third task with Molly, he insisted on informing Arthur of Voldemort's 
return in person rather than by owl, he cuts off Dumbledore in mid-
speech, he (unlike his family) calls muggles by name, he dresses 
in "cool" clothes, he is friends with goblins, he has joined the 
Order, he seems to be quite powerful magically, he doesn't like Snape.

What we don't know is why.  Why have we been told all this stuff 
about Bill?  What purpose does he serve?  I think JKR must be 
building up to something with Bill.  

Why else take so much care to see that we know so very much about a 
minor character?

Erin