A/N: This one is based on the premise that the time turner destruction in the Department of Mysteries had slightly different implications.

This was insane. Absolutely insane. One minute he was in the Department of Mysteries, watching all of Hermione's warnings become manifest, and the next his friends had disappeared and they'd been surrounded by a different batch of people. The Death Eaters had been replaced by confused and scared Ministry employees…then aurors. Hermione had suggested they go peacefully and he had readily agreed.

The subsequent interrogation had been even more bizarre. They kept asking him basic questions, and every time he answered, the two aurors would look at each other. Then they asked him what year it was and they really looked at each other after he answered. Then they'd taken a bit of blood and, after waving a wand over it, all but sprinted out of the room. They'd been gone about fifteen minutes and he was beginning to worry. He desperately wished that he hadn't separated him from Hermione. Harry imagined she was receiving the same treatment in a nearby room, but giving much more cogent answers.

Suddenly the silence was broken as a hooded figure entered the room. Whoever it was had performed some magic on their appearance because all of their features were indistinct and blurred.

"My apologies for the delay," the man began, "we think we've gotten the gist of what has happened but I've one more question to ask. It may seem a bit bizarre but please bear with me."

Harry nodded his agreement, which was entirely unnecessary. He had no choice but to comply.

"What did Hermione P- Granger say to you before you went to face Professor Quirell at the end of your first year?"

"What?" he asked dumbly.

"Think back and answer the question, Harry," the man instructed patiently.

Harry took a breath and gathered his thoughts. The voice sounded very familiar but…not. "She said I was a great wizard…and there was a bit about bravery and friendship, and then she told me to be careful," he blurted.

"Right," the man proclaimed before incanting Expecto Patronum. The Patronus quickly scurried out of the room, but from what Harry could discern before it disappeared, it looked remarkably similar to-

"Harry," the man began once again, "do you know how the oddest things seem to always happen to you?"

Harry nodded immediately. This man had no idea.

"Well, I'm going to need you to remember that and stay calm because this one is mental. Can you do that?"

He gulped and gave another nod. The man removed his hood, causing his face to become clear. Harry desperately did his best to remain calm as he took in the messy hair, green eyes, and faded lightning bolt scar…

"The time turners," he mumbled as he processed everything that had happened over the last few hours, "we went forward in time?"

"Right in one," Old Harry confirmed. "I didn't think you'd sort it out that fast but they knew you would."

"They?"

Before Old Harry could answer the door burst open, and Hermione bounded into the room, escorted by another hooded figure. She sprinted to his side and hugged him more forcefully than he could ever recall.

Harry's eyes bulged as he looked over Hermione's shoulder and saw Old Hermione now standing next to Old Harry. She was looking at him with unabashed fondness.

"He figured it out," Old Harry mumbled. He was standing very close to Old Hermione.

"I knew he would. You never give yourself enough credit," she murmured as she grabbed Old Harry's hand. His Hermione was still latched onto him and from the looks of it had no plans on letting go anytime soon.

As he was staring at their intertwined fingers he realized that Old Hermione had a wedding ring on her hand…and so did Old Harry. Oh Shit.

"It's going to be okay, Harry. Everything worked out," his Hermione murmured into his ear. "And we're going to go back and fix everything sooner."

He looked back at the old pair. "He's gone? And we're married?"

Old Harry grinned. "Yep. And since we've now sped up you getting your head out of your arse about Hermione, I reckon the married part will happen a bit sooner. I wouldn't be surprised if you start sh-"

"Harry," old Hermione admonished, "focus." The way she spoke to Old Harry reminded him of his Hermione…except a bit calmer and a bit more comforting; like how he imagined a proper married couple would interact.

He and Hermione had become a proper married couple. He'd never even allowed himself the hope of actually living long enough to get married, let alone to Hermione. But as he looked at their older doppelgangers, and felt Hermione embed herself in a bit further, his path forward was instantly, abundantly, made clear.

Old Hermione dropped a folder fit to bursting with parchment on the table. "A few years ago Harry and I began worrying about contingencies and came up with a few plans if something like this ever happened."

Old Harry chuckled. "By a few plans she means a way to get you back and a point by point set of instructions to speed up everything and save everyone. There are also several additional point by point sets of instructions if the changes you make impact-"

Old Hermione elbowed Old Harry in the ribs and pulled a small object out of her pocket, holding it up for his inspection. It looked similar to a time turner, but it had a few buttons along the top and was slightly larger.

"As I was saying, we have come up with a plan if something like this ever happened, so don't worry."

"This won't mess up the future?" he asked, remembering the fictional time travel stories he'd read.

"The future is what you make it," Old Harry reassured before he walked over and gently pried Hermione off of him, drawing a blush from his friend.

"I'm guessing you two are hungry, and we really need to get you out of here so we can keep your arrival under wraps. Do you two fancy heading home with us so we can continue our discussion?"

"We can just walk out of the Ministry? Just like that?"

"I'm the Minister of Magic and you're the head of the DMLE," his Hermione beamed. It was obvious that the Hermiones had had a much more in depth discussion already than he and Old Harry had managed. He wasn't surprised in the slightest.

Old Hermione handed him his wand. "We should get going. We've a lot to cover and we need to get you to away from prying eyes. Ready?"

He looked at his Hermione and saw that she was grinning unabashedly…full of hope, excitement and determination. He felt a grin forming on his face as well.

"Ready."