I am currently re-reading HP series, and there was one question that kept bugging me.

**Was there any significance to introducing the character of Romilda Vane so late in the book?**

Let me explain why I ask such a question. There were a lot of minor characters introduced in the series, but I felt like all of them had some meaning in their introduction (Crabbe/Goyle to highlight Draco's character, Dennis Crivey - give some character to some of the DA people, etc.) Even new Quiddich players that were introduced in HBP were to show the future Gryffindor team, how Harry managed as a captain, etc.

However, no matter how hard I thought, I could not find the slightest significance of Romilda's character; what's more she could've been easily replaced with some other minor character who was already introduced to the series - which brings us back to my question of why she even needed to be introduced into the series.