A/N: This is an outtake from my Rose/Scorpius fic Too Friendly, occurring between chapters eight and ten. You'll probably want to read at least the last scene of chapter eight to get the context for this conversation. Check back next week because I will be posting a new story! (No, it's not "In Love and War," but that one's coming up in the next few weeks!)

"Uncle Ron? Can I have a minute?"

James stood in the doorway of Ron's office. Ron closed the annual review he was working on. "Have a seat," he said, gesturing.

"It's about Rose."

"If this is about her and Malfoy—"

"Don't tell me it's none of my business, because it is," James said. "Rose is practically my sister. You know I'd look out for her the same as Lily."

He waited for Ron's acknowledgement, which was given with a grudging nod.

"This time, the one who's hurting her is you," James said bluntly.

Ron crossed his arms and glared, but his godson was no longer an easily intimidated boy.

"We were playing Exploding Snap, for Merlin's sake! The whole family was around. They had a few minutes alone before dinner and that was it. She didn't defy you—she had no idea you wanted her home by a certain time because she's never had a curfew at our house. Hell, Rose doesn't need a curfew—she's Rose! But you stormed in like an Auror with an arrest warrant, and you humiliated her in front of him. Mum's pretty pissed off, by the by."

"I'll add her to the list." Harry and Hermione weren't happy with him, either. Truth be told, Ron was a bit ashamed of himself.

"Look, you don't like Scorpius because he fancies Rose, and she's your baby girl. I get it—Dad's the same. But if you're going to hate him, at least get to know him and hate him for being Scorpius. Don't hate him for being a Malfoy."

Ron had spent enough time lying awake last night, replaying Bill's advice about not forcing Rose to choose, to see the wisdom in listening to others. And he did trust James's opinion. "You've never weighed in on any of Rose's or Hugo's friends before."

"Have you even bothered to look at her when she's with him? Scorpius makes her happy, Uncle Ron. I've watched them for years; all the cousins have. Ask anyone. Rose and Scorpius are good together. If you really care about her, if you really love her, you'll do what's best for her, even if it hurts."

Ron flinched. That was his dad's advice: love means doing what's best for the other person, even when it hurts.

"When did you get so clever?"

James grinned. "I listen to Aunt Hermione."

Ron laughed. "Only when it's convenient for you."

"But seriously, Uncle Ron—isn't it just a different kind of bigotry? How is this any different from people thinking less of Aunt Hermione because of who her parents are?"

It wasn't any different, Ron was big enough to admit that. At least privately.

"So, you're okay if I hate him so long as I hate him personally."

"If you're okay with losing Rose."

Not for the first time, Ron saw Harry and Ginny in their oldest son. He had their stubbornness, Harry's nobility, and Ginny's frankness; a pain-in-the-arse combination. "You're a lot like your parents. And that's not a compliment," he added, jabbing a finger in his direction.

James didn't respond. "I know what happened to Aunt Hermione," he said quietly. "It makes me angry too. But that wasn't Scorpius, Uncle Ron, and it's not fair to treat him like it was."

Ron surveyed his nephew, soon to be one of his first-year Auror trainees. "He's not into the Dark Arts?"

"Not even a hint," James said. "Don't get me wrong, he has his faults—bit of a vain swot, to be honest—but we can't all be daring Gryffindors, now can we?"

Ron grinned back and exchanged their ritual handshake, the slap-fist-tap he'd taught James even before he could walk, and watched with more than a little pride as the young man left his office.