 In early drafts of the book , the ghost Nearly Headless Nick sang a self @-@ composed song explaining his condition and the circumstances of his death . This was cut as the book 's editor did not care for the poem , which has been subsequently published as an extra on J. K. Rowling 's official website . The family background of Dean Thomas was removed because Rowling and her publishers considered it an " unnecessary digression " , and she considered Neville Longbottom 's own journey of discovery " more important to the central plot " . 
