Sierra stepped into the Potions classroom. She knew what her mother looked like these days. She saw her every day, sometimes more than once. Even still, it was hard to look up and meet her face to face, especially when Sierra noticed the woman was sitting behind the desk, and not right out front leaning on the desk like she usually was.

Sierra moved to the workstation closest to the professor's desk and put her bag down. "Hello," she said, trying to give a small smile. She didn't look very cheerful, though. That smile on her face didn't quite reach her eyes.