A/N: Here comes the next installment of Kill Your Darlings.

Thanks for your favorites, follows and reviews. What surprised me was your opinion towards Hermione in the last chapter. Was she that bad to hate? According to me, it's Harry and Hermione's fault equally. However, my beta Fiction Recipe thinks that the fault is entirely Harry's and he must overlook the past and move on with his life with Hermione.

Anyway, hope you like this one!

Oh, and a very Happy 26th Birthday to Rupert Grint! ^^

One month; it had been a month ever since Harry had last seen Hermione in person, the time he had seen pure hatred in her eyes. Her words kept haunting his mind, as well as his heart. He couldn't forget how much he and he couldn't stop feeling guilty about them.

But, she slept with Draco.

That's because you left her all alone in the dark. She wanted you but had no one by her side; she was helpless, you can't blame her.

True, Harry couldn't blame her; she was broke because of him. He should've known. He had never missed her so much in his life as he did now.

Hermione please come back to me, I love you, I miss you, I'm so sorry …

Oh he did sound like a romantic sap alright. Even Harry admitted it himself.

He now sat in his study, working on the Walsh case, with his favorite Dickie Valentine's running on the background. Harry couldn't agree less with the lyrics as his voice echoed the empty room.

Someone broke into my heart and stole a beat or two

The finger of suspicion points at you

Someone took away my sleep and never left a clue

The finger of suspicion points at you …

The common thing which the nearly six months old murder case and Hermione gave Harry was sleepless nights. Harry laughed humorlessly to himself, agreeing with the singer, flipping the pages of the file. For now, Rebecca Richardson was the prime suspect after finding more evidences against her. However the court kept postponing the trials day after day and months after months. It had resulted Harry to stay awake late at night with his colleagues and work till they found themselves another clue.

Just as soon as they can make the guilty one confess

I know exactly what I'm gonna do

I'll take and lock her charms forever in my arms

Then who is bound to be the guilty who

The finger of suspicion points at you

On the other hand, as close Harry was to Hermione, they hadn't uttered a word to each other. She had been visiting Elena and Derek quite often, from what he had learned. When he asked his sister how Hermione was, to his disappointment he was told that Hermione was trying to move on from him. He couldn't help but disagree with his sister when she asked him to forget Hermione as well.

Harry very well knew that Hermione could never forget him, or ever forget loving him.

Or even stop loving him.

He was the guilty one here and he completely agreed with the fact.

All Harry wanted to do was to sort it out with Hermione and confess that he had never stopped loving her. Then, they could live a happy life and spend the future together.

Harry did really want that to happen; he really did.

If only Hermione was willing to talking to him.

Hermione on the other hand hummed to the tune of the very same song as she read the script for the new movie project she had signed for. Coincidentally, it matched the story of her life. Memories gushed into her mind as the young girl in the script had her heart broken by the boy she loved and as much as she tries to move on, she fails and falls deeper for the very same boy who broke her.

Maybe the script writer was playing a terrible joke on her.

Or maybe it was her life laughing at her.

She sighed and placed the script on the table and buried her head into her hands. Elena had told her that Harry had been drinking again. Hermione's heart ached when she learned that he had been getting sleepless nights. Elena said that it was because of work. However, Hermione knew that the reason was her.

She had started to see Jeremy again quite often, knowing it was to pour out her feelings to someone who wouldn't judge her. At the same time, every time she met her ex-husband, she always thought of her Harry she loved.

Hermione lied to Elena saying that she was trying to move on from Harry, again. She hated it; Hiding the truth from the girl who was nothing less than her sister brought guilt into this brunette's heart.

At the same time, Harry deserved to go through the very same pain she went through; it was only fair.

The finger of the suspicion only pointed to Harry; he was the one who stole her heart, who gave her sleepless nights, and trapped her in his enticing charms.

He was guilty for stealing her broken heart.

Damn you Harry, Damn you for making me love you so much.

Really soon, tears started to make their way into her palms and then rolled off her arms, while her heart wanted nothing but be comforted by someone whom she could trust. She wanted Harry.

No! Don't think about him!

You'll fail to ignore him again, just like the last time.

My heart is much stronger than it was before-

Are you sure? Because you vowed not to cry because of Harry again, and you certainly broke it.

Vows; how petty her vows were. Whatever happened a decade ago was happening again. The last time, neither of them had the courage to face each other with a bunch of confessions in their hearts. And maybe, the circle was being repeated.

That's what Harry meant when he had taken her for their first date; he wanted them to run in a circle, repeat the very same mistakes they made before.

No, Hermione thought. She didn't want to experience pain all over again. She wanted Harry, and was also very sure that Harry wanted her as well.

Then why wait?

Hermione shook away her tears and wiped her glistened face. The last time neither of them had made up.

However this time, Hermione was determined to sort it out with Harry; she was the one who needed some time after all.

Maybe, it wasn't just Harry's fault in leaving her; it was hers as well.

"How are you Harry?"

Harry looked up to see his sister's mocha eyes glistening with concern. She gave him a small smile and then frowned at the glass of whiskey he held in his hand.

First of all, how did she get in? Harry thought.

"I have the spare key of the house you know." Elena answered his thoughts and then sat next to her brother. "Anyway, how are you?"

"I'm sure you can answer that Ellie." Harry slurred, keeping his glass on the table. "I'm fine." He later added with a gruff.

"No Harry, you aren't." his sister argued. "It's obvious."

"If it's obvious then why are you asking?" Harry asked her monotonously.

His sister sighed and placed her hand comfortingly on his shoulder. Harry stiffened for a moment but then relaxed at his sister's relaxing touch.

"Harry, if you love Hermione then sort it out with her." Elena said quietly. "If you miss her then show her that you do-"

"But Ellie, she isn't talking to me." Harry whined, burying his head into his hands. "How on earth am I supposed to sort it out?"

"You're a grown up Harry not a baby, use your mind." Elena finally snapped and looked away from her brother.

Harry sighed and looked at Elena, who sat at the other end of the couch frowning. He was done with upsetting one of the women he loved; he didn't want to upset the other one. So he slid closer to her and placed a kiss on her head. Elena instantly reacted at his gesture and smiled slightly.

"I'm sorry Ellie." Harry murmured. "I'm so sorry. Please don't leave me."

Elena chuckled and buried her head into Harry's chest. She truly did feel sorry for her brother's current state. Harry was helpless; he was on the verge of losing his only love and Elena herself was doing nothing to help him, or even Hermione. She felt useless.

"Oh Harry, I will never leave you!" She said comfortingly as Harry hugged her close. "You're the only family I have other than Derek and I love you so much." She couldn't help the tears leave her eyes. "You were always there for me, my protective brother. You let me cry on your shoulders when mum and dad died and I'm ready to do the same for you." She sobbed. "I love you."

"Sweetie I love you too." Harry said painfully, placing another kiss on Elena's head. "Please don't cry-"

"I don't want to cry!" Elena sobbed harder.

"Then why-?"

"I'm pregnant Harry! It's the hormones!"

Harry stiffened for a moment and took in whatever Elena said. Was his baby sister indeed-?

"Harry?" Elena called out meekly.

"Um, are- are you sure?" Harry stuttered.

Elena's eyes grew larger as she jumped excitedly out of her brother's embrace. "Of course I am!" she exclaimed. "I wasn't feeling well for the past one week and was getting sick every morning. Also I've been crying a lot lately for every sweet thing Derek does for me and I've also been facing some feminine issues." She cleared her throat awkwardly. "So anyway, I went to the doctor this morning and found out that I'm six weeks pregnant!" She finished with a squeal.

"Oh Ellie, I'm so happy for you!" Harry said, giving his sister a huge bear hug. "I'm going to become an uncle already." He kissed her forehead. "But you're so young."

"I know I am Harry," Elena gave a teary chuckle.

"Does Derek know?"

"No he doesn't- yet." Elena said with a smile. "You know it's his birthday day after, so we're leaving for a road trip to Edinburgh tomorrow. I want to surprise him."

Harry smiled at his sister and said "You're so grown up Ellie. You're just twenty two but- this thing," He sighed as old memories painfully flushed into his mind.

"I'm sorry for stealing yours and Hermione's plan Harry." Elena said softly. "I know even you two had planned to start a family very young."

Harry nodded as his heart ached when Hermione's name was taken. "It's alright." He croaked. "You hadn't planned for a child, did you?"

"No we didn't."

Harry nodded and rocked his baby sister in his arms. He eventually kept placing kisses on her head.

Elena couldn't complain but close her eyes and enjoy the feeling of her brother's love for her.

"Harry, you still have time." She said quietly. "If you have the courage, go get your girl. I know you can do it."

"But Ellie-"

"You two could still carry on with the plan you know, have children after marriage. That's what you really want right?"

Harry sighed and didn't answer his sister.

That certainly didn't mean that he didn't want the life his sister described.

A week had past and Harry hadn't heard a word from his sister or even Derek. Elena last telegraphed him before leaving Edinburgh, saying that Derek was ecstatic of becoming a father. Harry couldn't help but be happy for the young couple and having a chance or rather an excuse of forgetting his sadness of separation.

Hermione's latest music album had released the day Elena and Derek had left for their second honeymoon, and Harry made it into the launch party. He had tried to corner Hermione and sort it out, however she had just glanced at him and had ignored the fact that he existed and looked cozier in Jeremy Walsh's arms.

It hurt him that she was spending more time with her ex-husband.

It hurt him that she was avoiding him.

And now he sat all by himself in his dingy office as Ron called it, puffing his cigar. He had enough of Hermione's ignorance and also, he had enough by his sister who had probably come back from her trip. Why on earth was everyone being so unfair?

There was a knock on the door and Ron allowed making his appearance. Harry acknowledged his presence and looked away until his friend shook him by the shoulder.

"Harry, Harry-"

"Ron, what is it now?" Harry drawled.

"Harry it's-" Ron stopped abruptly as Harry looked t him. "It's about Ellie and Derek."

Harry's eyes grew in concern as he sat up straight and kept the cigar on the table. "What about them Ron? Are they back?" He asked carefully.

Ron's face finally went red and his voice quivered as he spoke.

"I just got a report from the highway police control and-" He took in a huge breath. "Harry, their car crashed." Harry looked dead panned. "It was because of the snowy weather and I guess the car lost control and-" Ron paused and wiped the tears which almost fell off his eyes with his fingers. "They are no more mate, they are no more."

A/N: And things in Harry's life become even more complicated.

The title of the chapter comes from the song 'The Finger of Suspicion' by Dickie Valentine. I found some songs from the 50's to suit the contents of this story!

Anyway, let me know how this one went. Thanks! ^^