A/N: I'm doing some fairly major time-skipping, mainly because I'm really bad at keeping track of all these goddamn dates. I don't know what in Merlin's name convinced me I could actually keep track of times down to the second—in any case, it doesn't matter.

So, rather than drag out each characters' partner-meeting, I'm going to have some of the major ones' POVs for both the last night and the meeting. I don't really want to write segments for all the majors; I feel like it's not really necessary. Maybe if it's requested I'll do a chapter or something, but eh. Minor characters I'll just…I'll see. But this'll be Ginny and then Hermione; Fred in the next chapter.

Ginny's POV

"Soon," I say as soon as I rouse her awake. "Very, very, very soon." The words I'm looking for are tomorrow morning, but they stick in my throat because of the wristband. I am not allowed to tell her, and she is not allowed to guess. "Very, very, very, very, very soon."

She nods, understanding. "Ginny…"

"I don't know how I'm going to do this, Luna."

"What exactly?"

"Marry. Have kids. Have sex with a man."

I see the almost-grin flicker across her waiflike face. "Close your eyes and think of England."

"It's not funny," I protest, but I smile because it almost is. "Please."

She shifts her wavy mass of hair into a loose bun, keeping it out of the way, and motions for me to join her under the covers. There's something different in the atmosphere, something almost tense, like how it was the first time. Fear, but nondescript, undirected fear. Desperation, but that's always there.

Her body is small, slightly pronounced curves. Not quite an hourglass like mine, but not starved like Hermione's. Small breasts, narrow hips, slim waist. Pale skin and light eyes; light, sad, lost eyes. I didn't corrupt her first; war did. I just stepped in after to finish the job. She's not too loony anymore. I don't think she has the innocence for it.

She pulls the elastic out of my hair, letting my hair fall just past my shoulders, pulling my shoulders down and forcing our lips to meet. Our movements aren't as passionate as they usually are, not as desperate. We're here because we feel we should be, like we owe something to each other. Neville sleeps deeply a few doors down; the Silver Trio is almost, almost reunited.

I move downwards, my hands tracing over her subtle curves. Our eyes meet and I know she understands. That she's not in debt to me in any way. That this isn't the last time. That this is merely a break, not the end. I taste her, the taste that is uniquely her, everything that is uniquely her. Desperate. Reverent. This is just a break, I tell myself. Just a three-year break.

Tuesday, 9:30 AM, Diagon Alley

I close my eyes and get whisked away by the bracelet. 0:0:0:0:1. One second.

0:0:0:0:0. I collapse on the cobblestone alley in an ungraceful heap. I scramble to my feet, surprised at how not nervous I am. I'm just resigned to my fate at this point. It's three years, I tell myself. Just three years and two kids. I've been through worse. I'm strong, but sometimes it's better to just endure than to fight.

I make my way through the parting crowd, going about their daily grinds. The bracelet seems to pull me toward my assigned partner and my eyes search out familiar faces. And then I see him, walking toward me. Untamed, jet black hair. Round, wire glasses with bright emerald eyes.

"Harry!" I cry out. I'm almost relieved. It's not ideal but my Merlin, it could be so much worse. The waves of relief wash over my body and I run into his arms, nearly knocking him over. He's not a lover, only a friend. But even that is so much more than I could have ever hoped for.

Hermione's POV

I toss and turn in my bed. Ginny has already been paired off with Harry, an incredible relief to all of us. At least she's with someone we know and trust and love. She's going to be okay. She's asleep in the bed next to mine; we're not having honeymoons or whatever until everyone's clock counts down. I'm tempted to rouse her out of her slumber to force her to comfort me, to still the panicked beating of my anxious heart, but I restrain myself. She deserves her sleep.

The air is warm and stagnant, comfortable, but I feel overheated and flushed with horrible nervousness. My mind races with persistent what ifs. And then—

All the thoughts collide and shatter and something even more pressing hits me like a ton of bricks. I'm a virgin. I have never had sex. I do not want to lose my virginity to a man I might not like or even know. No. I cannot allow this to happen. My mind settles on the best, most trusted option and I slip out of bed, creeping into the hall with my wand in hand and Apparating away as quietly as possible.

Saturday, 6:37 PM, Diagon Alley

My chest feels horribly compressed by the Apparation. I gulp air into my lungs frantically as I stumble into Diagon Alley, my eyes wildly searching the crowd. Maybe I'll get lucky and be paired with Ron. At least Ron would never do anything to harm me in any way intentionally. My heart beats faster and faster and I feel like I'm going to faint right there in the Alley. I feel like I'm going to be sick, like I'm going to die of the suffocating panic. I've never been so afraid in my entire life. But I straighten myself out, swallowing my heartbeat as it thumps violently in my chest and my throat and everywhere. I put on a brave face as I move where the bracelet pulls me. Toward a pair of cold silver eyes on an aristocratic face framed by silvery blonde hair. The Ministry has not taken mercy on me.

"Malfoy."

"Mudblood."

A/N: I'm really sorry I didn't write any actual smut for Ginny and Luna. I've never written smut before, but I'm planning on it for the next chapter. I will take all the con crit I can get for it. I will be writing smut for our lesbian couple at some point, but I just didn't want to at this point.