Hogwarts Castle was silent in the dead of night, with only the occasional dim oil lamp swaying lazily between the various floors.
"That's Filch on patrol."
"I know that much." Silvan glanced at Fred, who was serving as their commentator. "But can you really get outside the castle without opening the doors?"
"George, looks like we're being doubted." Fred raised an eyebrow.
"Then let's show our first-year what the Weasleys can do." George walked over and stopped in front of a painting.
Silvan looked over instinctively. It was a landscape painting: endless wheat fields, flocks of cattle and sheep, and a barn.
George reached out and slapped the barn in the lower-left corner three times.
Thud, thud-thud!
A man who had not originally been in the painting appeared. Muttering curses, he walked over and yanked open the barn door.
Then the painting split down the middle like an opening door, revealing a pitch-black passage behind it.
"Fred, you go first," George said. The moment he finished speaking, Fred plunged headfirst into the passage.
"Why not go in and take a look..." George looked at Silvan and gestured for him to proceed.
Silvan did not hesitate and stepped into the passage after him.
It was dark inside, though the ground was fairly level. Silvan held up his wand and carefully made his way forward.
About ten minutes later, stairs leading upward appeared in the passage, and Fred was waiting for him there.
When Silvan reached him, Fred threw up a hand and pushed open a trapdoor above them.
Moonlight streamed in from outside, and Silvan knew they had left the castle.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and come see!" George's cheerful voice came from behind him.
After leaving the passage, Silvan found himself in a fairly spacious room. By