"Oh, so this is the son you talk about so often?"

Draco smiled wryly at the old wizard who was talking to his father. He hated being there, sure he enjoyed being the center of attention but not in this case.

"Yes, this is Draco." Lucius Malfoy beamed patting his shoulder. The old wizard smiled and walked away to talk to the other guests.

"Do we really have to do this father?" Draco asked, trying to suppress the nauseating feeling.

"Of course we do Draco." Lucius gave an eerie smile.

"I don't want to be here."

"You have no other choice, this is your coming out party. Everyone from the ministry is here to congratulate you on passing your training."

Draco swore under his breath so his father couldn't hear him. As soon Lucius' attention moved from Draco, he slipped away from the crowded ball room of the Malfoy Manor.

He loosened his silver tie and headed straight for the immense backyard garden. No one would find him there. Draco ran his fingers through his long hair, he had let it grow to his ears. Of course Narcissa was constantly begging him to cut it.

Draco sat down idly near the small fountain in the secluded garden. He dusted away the dirt from his black dress robes and looked up at the pale sky. The sun was setting, the purples and pinks filled the sky. Draco sighed, he wanted something to make him happy.

What was wrong with him? He was rich, he had an awesome job at the Ministry and every girl was ready to give themselves up to him. What was the problem? Why couldn't he just be happy with this perfect life?

Because it wasn't perfect. No.

He wanted the perfect girl to complete the picture, but why couldn't he find her? He had dated nearly every girl in Hogwarts and pretty much all the young trainees in the Ministry.

Maybe he was gay….Draco thought for a moment. Hell no. That wasn't it either.

"I guess there isn't a girl out there for me…" he sighed.

"Draco?"

He turned quickly to see who had intruded his silence. "Granger? What the hell are you doing here?"

Sure enough Hermione Granger was standing in the garden, her deep blue dress flowing in the wind. "Nice to see you too." She said rolling her eyes. "Did you forget I'm also part of the Ministry?"

Draco got up slowly from where he was sitting, "You finished your training last week, right?"

"Yes…nice place by the way." She said gesturing to the garden. Strands of her hair kept blowing loosely from her updo. Draco couldn't help but notice how much better she looked without her Hogwart's robes.

"Yeah, I guess it's not bad." Draco shrugged. "The maze looks better."

"You have a maze in your backyard?" Hermione couldn't help but smile.

"Of course, Malfoys enjoy going beyond the usual. Want to see it?"

Hermione turned back to the mansion, "Sure, no one will notice I've gone anyway."

Draco nodded in understanding and gestured past the garden. They followed the stony pathway and past rows of orchids.

"This is beautiful." Hermione breathed.

"Thanks." Draco smiled. She gave him a weird look. "I planted them." He said.

She blinked, "I'm sorry for a second there I thought you said you did garden work."

"It's true okay. Why can't I plant flowers?" Draco asked roughly.

"I…just didn't expect it. I thought it would be beneath you to do that." she shrugged.

"Well you thought wrong." He grumbled. Once again he ran his fingers through his silky hair.

"Well this is it, the Maze." Draco pointed to the giant green wall with an archway through it.

"Can we go in?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"Are you sure you don't want to ruin your dress by going in?" Draco smirked.

She rolled her eyes, "I'm fine, besides I hate this dress."

"Really? It looks good on you." The words left his lips before he even had time to register what he said.

"Thank you." Hermione smiled, a little surprised, and walked in ahead of him.

"No problem…" he replied softly. He cursed himself mentally for complimenting her.

"So where are Scarhead and Weasel?" he asked roughly.

"Harry and Ron are still in Romania…. completing their Auror training." She explained walking slowly through the maze, passing through every bend to see another row of perfectly cut hedges. She noticed some of the thorns and realized it would definitely tear at her dress.

"So, you and Weasel getting married yet?" Draco asked idly.

"Why? Did you want an invitation?" Hermione smirked, dodging the thorns.

He scoffed, "No, it's okay…so are you?"

"No, he's getting married to Luna." She smiled.

"That crazy chick?" Draco was taken aback. "Why would he do that, I mean if he has you?" he blurted out.

"…"

""Don't flatter yourself, it wasn't a compliment. I'm just saying you'd be the better choice over Looney Luna." He roughly ran his hands through his hair.

"Thanks…I guess." Hermione said softly.

"No, I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way. I'm just…sorry." Draco mumbled.

"Wow, Draco apologizing to me. I didn't think I'd live to see the day." Hermione chuckled.

He stared intently at her. The purple hues of the sunset were reflecting off her short dress. She looked almost magical…wait, what was he thinking? He was officially insane.

"What's wrong?" she said looking at him.

"Uh, nothing, you just used my first name, Granger."

"Yes, I guess I did, Draco."

"So…how did it happen? I thought you and Weasley were meant for each other or something." Draco pried.

"I guess I wasn't the perfect girl for him." Hermione shrugged.

They walked in silence. They were going farther into the maze.

There was that word again, Perfect. What was perfect anyway? Nothing can be perfect so why was Draco so intent on the perfect girl?

"What about you?" Hermione asked. "Planning on staying a bachelor for the rest of your life?"

"Not really…but I want to find the perfect girl." He winced at the last bit.

"And what exactly is the perfect girl?" Hermione asked.

"Do you want to stop for a bit?" Draco slumped against the hedge and planted himself on the ground. He pulled off the silver tie and tossed it aside.

"Sure." Hermione to her place beside him on the dirt floor, crossing her legs beneath her.

They sat in silence. The sky was dark now and all Draco could see was Hermione's hazel eyes sparkling in the dim lighting coming from the mansion over the hedges.

"The perfect girl…" Draco said softly. "I have no idea. I want someone who I can have a conversation with."

"Really? I thought you enjoyed banging airheads." Hermione laughed.

"Oh very funny….but I'm serious. Someone who can understand me. All these girls just want the money or only care for my good looks."

"Getting a little arrogant aren't we?" Hermione grinned.

"A girl who wants me for me as a person, I guess." Draco blew the blonde hair from his face.

"And what kind of person are you exactly?" Hermione sighed. "Misunderstood and trying to find your place in this world away from your fathers. Trying to please everyone but wanting the perfect life in your own eyes even if it means disappointing the ones you love…"

"Whoa…that's creepy Hermione, it's like you read my mind." Draco said.

She smiled, "Hermione? What happened to Granger?"

He smiled, "Never mind then Granger."

"Is that it? Smart and understands you? That can fit any girl." Hermione stated.

"I guess I want someone pretty…."

"Oh, see that's what was missing." She chuckled.

"Well come on, I want something that'll appeal to me other than her personality." Draco said defensively.

"So…am I pretty enough?" Hermione asked sweetly.

He looked at her in the poor light but he could make out her features. Her hair was a lot more wavy, her lips full and ready for Draco to kiss – Whoa! No, this is Granger….but her eyes, glinting the pale light. Her skin looked creamy and….

"No." Draco said.

"Oh," she said with a slight disappointed expression.

"You're beautiful."

"Oh…" she breathed. "Thanks." She looked away, her cheeks turning red.

"It's true."

She looked at him for a long while, considering kissing him, "Um, I should probably get back. Ginny came with me and she might still be looking for me…"

"Yeah, my dad'll send a search party for me if I don't get back." Draco heaved himself up and reached down to help her up.

Hermione grabbed his soft hands and let him help her. "So how do we get back?"

Draco looked around for a moment before he could register her question, "Fuck…"

"What?" she asked anxiously.

"We're stuck in this maze and I don't have my wand." He responded.

"What!" Hermione thought for a moment, "I left mine in my bag with Ginny…"

Draco ruffled his thick blonde hair for a moment, "I guess it's not so bad." He said giving her a sheepish look. He stepped a little closer to her. "If I had to be stuck here, I'm glad I'm stuck with the perfect girl."

Hermione smiled and for a moment ran her hand through his silky hair, "Yeah, I guess it's not so bad."

8888888888888

I don't write one-shots often, but heck I needed to put something up. This is for all the fans waiting anxiously for an update for 100 Ways to Annoy Voldemort and Good Morning World. If you want me to continue this, then I guess I could develop a plot.

Well, review…I need to get back to "studying" for exams, unlike last time where I watched a Johnny Depp movie instead, but how could I resist, he looked awesome. Chao, for now.