It can all depend on the reason for your first section.
I had a wonderful VBAC 19 days ago. First time around I was induced at 40+12 days, but only got to 7 cm (much the same as you) My DD was large for me, and in a poor position, and once I was tethered to a bed on a monitor with drips and goodness only knows what else, her head had zilcho chance of descending. So the scalpels came out.
This time I started having sweeps at 40 weeks, and did make progress - with lots of reflexology, raspberry leaf and long walks. At 40+8 days I went into labout naturally and DS was born less than 12 hours later. I managed on my TENS until I was 5 cm and then had gas and air. I stayed on my feet throughout, and my baby got into position.
I have a second degree tear, it hurt like hell, but I am still emotional over the most amazing experience ever. I would do it all again, definitely. Even at its worst, it didn't hurt anything like as much as prostin/ sytocinon contractions.
My consultant and midwife were supportive, (shame the same can't be said for the regs and SHOs in the hospital...) and I had a doula as well.
According to my consultant you can expect to progress fairly quickly up to the point where you "got to" last time around. I was actually faster from 7 cm to pushing, but by then my waters had gone.
According to this site, your chances of a VBAC are 73% if the c/s was performed at 6-9cm dilation last time - allowing, of course, for other factors. But 73% was good enough for me! Prepare for HCPs to be happy to pay lip service to your wants, but for them to try and reduce your chances by protocol: I had to fight to refuse constant monitoring and the routine insertion of a venflon (needle for a drip "just in case") when I arrived at hospital.
BUT it was all worth it. I was tired afterwards, but in an elated way, not a recovering from surgery way. I have bled for less time, had no blues, and DS fed for an hour immediately after birth.
Planning a VBAC is a huge gamble; the fear of another emergency CS doesn't go away, but you can get to a stage when you feel that you could accept one because you have done everything possible to make the birth happen in the way that you want it to. Your decision will come down to whether you feel or not that you need to experience a vaginal birth. I did, but I have friends who have been as delighted by their second (elective) sections as I have been by my VBAC!