1I do not own Carrie or Harry Potter. Things seem to take a turn for the better, when unexpectantly, Carrie is asked to the prom. Tom however doesn't trust any of those around her further than he can throw them, and perhaps there is something else going on in his head as well! *wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more!*

Chapter Three: Strange Days

Carrie

Things were changing in school. One of the pretty girls, Sue Snell, had taken pity on Carrie, and did not like how the others treated her. She wanted her to have the chance to experience what it was like, just once, to be just like everyone else! That is what she had told her. Carrie hid a smile. If only they knew, just who she was! She remained shy on the outside. She didn't need word getting back to her mother of the change that just writing back and forth with Tom had wrought! She didn't understand though. Just why would someone so intent on torturing her suddenly try to become her friend? Sue seemed genuine enough, but it was so strange! Her gym teacher would take her aside lately and say some of the strangest things! Like how she could be so pretty, if only I would wear some make–up! "Hello? Have you met my mother? I'm sure that would go over VERY nice! Some extra QUALITY time in the prayer closet! My looks were never that great, and now they did not concern me. I had more important things in my life now!" she thought at the time.

Still, her words wouldn't leave her. And so, secretly, she had bought some make-up, and tried on some lipstick, only to be caught by the tram that was Chris, that laughed her out of the store! Oh how sweet it would be, when it would finally be the right time to take her revenge! That girl would pay first! She remained confused, as Sue Snell continued to hang around her, even in front of the other girls! Perhaps, just perhaps, this one was being sincere! Hope, for one moment bloomed in her heart. Something truely unexpected happened when she was in the library, studying the notes from one of Tom's lessons. She was hidden in one of the isles. She didn't want onlookers, and she really got tired of the jeers, though silent, sent her way when she needed to concentrate! She jumped, when she felt a hand touch her shoulder, and dropped her books. She turned quickly, starting to pick them up, when who did she see but Mr. Popular himself, Tony Ross!

And he was smiling at her! "I'm so sorry Carrie! Here, let me help you!" he said. He bent down, while Carrie quickily picked up both of her most prized notebooks before he could see them. He handed her the history and math book she had brought with her. He helped her up, still smiling. "So Carrie, has anyone asked you to the prom?" she would of laughed in her face, were she not so stunned by the question. What did Mr. Popular want with her? Slowly, she said softly, "No, no one has asked me." If the boy could of smiled any wider, he would be spurting out blood! "That's great! I was wanting to know, I mean I was wondering if, maybe, you would like to go with me!" That did it! Carrie's mouth about dropped to the ground! "Insn't there some more pretty girl you would like to take?" she asked honestly. "Just you. And you are far more pretty than you think, Carrie" he replied.

"Alright, I guess I'll go with you, if you are sure that's what you want." she answered. "Great! Hey, would you like a ride home?" he asked. "Ummm sure..." Carrie was unsure of what to think! "I'll wait for you up front!" he said, all cheery. Part of Carrie was excited, the other was entirely confused! Tony was a hunk, there was no denying that! But why would he ask her, of all people? But she had already said yes. How she was going to put this to her mother, she had no idea! She would have to make her dress. She was silent, on the way home. She was even more shocked by the hug he gave her, before she went through the door. She grimaced, when she heard her mother's voice the minute she closed the door. "Who was that, Carrie!" she asked. "No one Momma. I just got a ride home from a kid at school." she tried to reason with her. "It was a boy, wasn't it? He was staring at your dirty pillows!" she screached.

"He did nothing of the kind, Momma!" she tried to defend herself. She hit the floor, when her Mother's powerful slap slammed into her cheek. She felt herself being dragged, AGAIN, into the prayer closet. She snagged Tom's notebook as she slid across the floor. She was afraid of loosing that control again. The door slammed shut, her mother ranting. Carrie closed her ears to her, and started mouthing prayers aloud, while she sought for a pencil and luckily found one! "Are you there Tom? These past few days have been strange. Mother has locked me in the Prayer Closet again." she wrote. "I'm here. What do you mean, strange?" he asked. "One of the girls, Sue Snell, who tormented me has suddenly turned nice! She continues to hang around me, in front of the other girls, and declares she is my friend. I would like to believe it is sincere. But that is not the strangest thing. Tony Ross, the most popular student in school, has asked me to prom!"

She didn't know what to think, when she felt a short, temporary sense of anger from Tom that dissapeared as soon as it had showed itself. "What is Prom, Carrie?" he asked. "A dance, a formal dance. You have to get your hair done, and make-up and wear a formal gown. Only Seniors and Juniors in high school can come. I didn't expect to be asked!" she replied. "Do you like him?" was Tom's next question. "I don't know him. Today was the first time he has even spoken to me! I'm so confused! I want to go, but I don't know! I'm so confused!" she wrote back. "I would go Carrie, if only to spite those muggle bitches. Go and outshine them all! Show them just who is really superior! I imagine they will be jealous, with your having the most popular guy on your shoulder. But be leary. I don't trust any of them, not even Sue! They may try something, I get a bad feeling in my gut, when thinking on it, though I don't know why." he replied.

He seemed flat, not entirely himself when he said that. "Are you dissapointed in me, Tom?" she asked. "Never, don't concern yourself with that. I rather you were here, amongst your own kind, that is all. There may be a way to bring that to pass yet! Do you remember when I told you about the time turner?" he asked. She remembered, also remembering her shock when she found that Tom was writing to her from 20 years in the past! (I'm bringing him up to the 50's, deal with it folks!) "I remember. You told me they couldn't get it to go further back than an hour." she replied. "Dumbledore has managed to get it to go to any time desired! I don't know what he did, but he has made time travel, if only for those with the power to do it, possible! Would you be willing, if I find a way, to come with me, to my time, and come to Hogwarts?" he asked. She felt a sense of nervousness in him. She smiled at the page. "Yes, I would go. What do I have here?" she replied.

Tom

He didn't know what to think, about all the things she had said. He didn't trust any of those muggles as far as he could throw them. And something terrified him about it. For no reason, shudders were going through him. Something was going to happen, at that dance! He was going to have to get to her, somehow! He told himself over and over it wasn't because he was jealous of Tony Ross! Still, at the very thought of Carrie going to the dance with him, a knot would form in his stomach and he had the strong urge to go find a Grypphindore and curse him! He knew there would be a struggle as well, between Carrie and her mother. Oh yes, it would have to be that night, that he comes for her. She was going to need him! He and no one else could go to find her. He was going to have to go to Dumbledore, whom he didn't trust, and tell him everything because he knew that he would be the only one that would understand enough to let him do what needed to be done.

He smiled, at the thought. Carrie was going to have an unexpected visitor at her prom!