Hello! I'm here again with this new chapter of Hoping for a Chance. There was some kind of delay in posting this because I wasn't sure if you guys would like it. The first draft I made was too short—really short. It was just 200 or so-so words. I couldn't even imagine posting it cause it was way too short, but oh well, we can't change it, I might as well just edit it and add some more lines to make it longer. Here are those who reviewed, and thanks!

Dreaming One: Thanks for that really good comment about my story, telling that it has potential…I'm really glad you said that (when I'm feeling this story isn't good cause there's only two reviews in one chapter) but you were there to save my day! Thanks a lot.

Delila-malfoy: Thanks for the review again! Hope you like this one…

Rufus: Thanks for the review, and I honestly want to get on with the story, but as I've said earlier, I can't, because of my too short Chapter Three. I'm sorry and I do hope you understand. I know, too, that Draco won't even tell Hermione that in his dreams in the real Harry Potter story but who knows? Maybe tricky J.K. Rowling has something up on her sleeve that we don't expect yet. Oh, and your review really made me happy, considering you read my author's note!!! Waah! I'm really touched.

Schmow: Exactly where you got your name, I don't know, but I'm thankful for you saying that Hermione and Draco look cute together, and by all means, they really do!

On with the story!!!

Hoping for a Chance

By Cerulean Sapphire

I was walking along the Muggle pathway of some town where I thought I might find her, looking for some signs of her. There were many people I was looking at, wondering when I'm going to see her again. I just wanted to find her, but I think that's not easy.

The crowd is large if you compare it to the students at Hogwarts when I'm still there. The people seem not to mind each other. These people, Muggle as they are, are wearing really comfortable-looking clothes. I could even feel they are warm, not like these thin robes that I'm wearing. Streets were oddly full of people even when it's already night, but I might have guessed sooner or later that it was Christmas and they were trying to find things they could buy at the last minute.

Christmas.

I always resent the idea of people being happy while enjoying the night with their loved ones, for I have never felt that joy in Christmas.

Christmas means being back to Malfoy Manor.

Christmas means being back to father…back to the pain…back to the Death Eaters and Dark Arts.

Christmas means being back to imprisonment.

That's my way of simplifying what Christmas is for me, for I have never celebrated Christmas…at all.

But I got the picture of Christmas in my fourth year. It was the Triwizard tournament, and Hogwarts is going on about having a certain Yule Ball. Of course, at first I hate it, people going on and dancing, eating and cheering when there wasn't anything to celebrate at all, but I changed my view of that certain Ball when I got a glimpse of Viktor Krum's beautiful date. Not that I was entranced by her, but she seemed very mature yet I could feel she was nervous. I was going with Pansy, whose father is a fair acquaintance of my own, but I wasn't paying attention to her. My eyes were glued to the very pretty girl wearing robes of periwinkle blue. She was happy of the festivities, dancing quite gladly with Viktor close against her. It made me love that simple day when I walked down to the Yule Ball because I saw her.

She took my breath away.

Of course, I already knew who she was. She was the girl I never respected, the girl I always made to cry, the girl never left alone by my silly taunts.

Why, she's Hermione Granger, the girl I called mudblood.

Suddenly, a question struck me like it never did before.

What is the reason behind calling her such a foul name?

Did she do anything against me to have such a curse as to be the one I horribly call mudblood?

Why did I make her cry so many times?

I never did answer my questions, but it made me stop doing things a lot less than I would have imagined. Every now and then I would throw some bad remarks, but it made my heart sink low. It was like my mouth has its own mind, speaking without even noticing my heart has been a wreck because of it.

I shook my head, realizing that I'm still here at some Muggle town with nothing for shelter. I guess this was my fate, to be someone who doesn't even deserve some happiness.

Two years have passed since I came to a resolution that I must find her—anywhere—just to say I'm sorry…but still, I haven't seen even the ghost of her brown hair.

My prayers…they were not being answered…why?

Fate is why.

I don't deserve finding her…I don't deserve to ask for forgiveness of the one I love…I don't deserve seeing her…I am not worthy…I had the chance before and I let it slip. But why, God…why, of all things you could think of as punishment…why should it be Hermione? Why do you let me want to suffer this much?

Am I that bad…?

No…please tell me she's not the payment of everything I've done wrong…tell me I'm going to see her again, and she'll forgive me…please…that's the only thing that's been keeping me alive up to this day…

I stumbled, the cold snow touching my cheeks…my teeth are now chattering…I open my eyes yet I couldn't see any light…

Or worse…

I couldn't see her…

She's the most important thing for me. Let me find her, and I'll be okay…

But nothing came…

Until…

A strong hand pulled me and helped me walk. There was a hushed breathing near me, saying…

"Is he okay?"

I could hear it…that sweet voice again…I knew it…I could tell it was Hermione…

I'm back where I belong…

At last…

But…am I really home?

Is this really the girl I long for?

Why am I suddenly having doubts when I already have found her?

That someone who helped me up was now taking me to a soft cushion…it was deeply comfortable.

Something was now touching my face, something warm and soothing, and I could only think of one thing that comforts me this much…

I opened my eyes a bit, and I would see her chocolate eyes, hear her voice once more…

No…it couldn't be…

Blue eyes were staring at me with deep concern…her tender locks were of gold…

No…it can't be…

"Hi…are you okay now? Do you want to eat?"

It's not her…

Definitely not her…

Author's note: Oh, man! Please don't get mad at me or something, but it was after all, what I really planned. Anyways, I have made the story longer, yay! I'm really happy and I hope you guys liked it…if you didn't…I don't know. Oh well, can't win the hearts of everybody, but I'd like to know. Reviews are sincerely accepted, and if you leave your e-mail add, I'll reply and thank you as soon as possible. Don't worry; I'm not a grouch who'll complain about whatever you wrote. Feel free to say whatever you want about my story; it's even okay if you say my story sucks (honestly, it's alright, people here at my house think reading and watching Harry Potter, being completely crazy about Harry Potter and waiting for the release of book 5 on June 21st sucks!), cause I know there's definitely a reason behind it (after all, my relatives think Harry Potter is crazy and it makes you crazy too…not!!!). Review!!!