Harry Potter and In the Presence of Enemies
With 7 books and 8 movies, I think it’s almost impossible that people don’t know Harry Potter. Almost everybody knows what is Harry Potter, or who is Harry Potter. And I suppose you guys already know the storyline of Harry Potter.
On this occasion, I am going to break down the story from Dream Theater’s song called In the Presence of Enemies and its similarity with Harry Potter’s storyline.
So, if you are an HP fanboy/fangirl and/or a Dream Theater fan — or at least, listener — this would be interesting.
I have to tell you it’s not that this song has a similar storyline with the whole Harry Potter film franchise — not the books, but only similar to the story of Severus Snape, Lord Voldemort, and Death Eaters — a little bit about Harry Potter himself.
First of all, what is In the Presence of Enemies?
In the Presence of Enemies is one of five Dream Theater songs that eclipses the 20 minute mark. The lyric was written by John Petrucci. Featured on their ninth studio album, Systematic Chaos it is split into two parts — the first and last tracks, because the band believed that it was a great opener and a great closer for the album.
Source: Dream Theater Fandom
The story of “In the Presence of Enemies” was inspired by a Korean manhwa named Priest, as John Petrucci explains that not being a manga fan, precisely, “[…] I like it though. This one, I just stumbled upon and I really liked the content. It inspired me to take a different approach lyrically. You have to keep things interesting for yourself when writing new material so I just took this and ran with it. […] Those types of lyrics are fun to write, you know? The dark subject matter, the dark master stuff. It’s another way of writing, a fresh one to me.” He also summarizes the lyrics: “It’s a story about somebody who loses himself and end struggles with the darkness, symbolized by the Dark Master. And the story ends up really being the darkness within and goes through the different phases where he has to fight demons and things like that.
Source: John Petrucci, Chaos in Progress. Event occurs at 1:18:00.
Now, take a look into the information about Priest.
Priest (Hangul: 프리스트) is a manhwa (Korean comic) series created by Hyung Min-woo. It fuses the Western genre with supernatural horror and dark fantasy themes and is notable for its unusual, angular art style.
Source: http://mudmosh.com/getting-to-know-priest-manhwa-artist-min-woo-hyung/
Priest tells the story of humanity’s battle against 12 fallen angels. The angels descended to Earth to ‘play God’ among humans, who build a temple and statues in their honor. For their rebellion against him, God destroyed their temple, imprisoned their souls in statues, and buried the statues underground.
Centuries later, a Holy Knight name Vascar De Gullion loses his family. He ‘loses faith’ and wanders the earth in a ‘blood rage.’ He discovers a cave containing the statues of the 12 fallen angels. Temozarela convinces Vascar De Gullion to give up his body to the angel to take revenge against God. Vascar De Gullion is discovered by a powerful priest, Betheal. He discovers that Vascar De Gullion is actually Temozarela. Betheal traps their souls within a powerful weapon called the Domas Porada, becoming the demon Belial in the process.
Ivan Isaacs solves the puzzle of the Domas Porada, freeing Temozarela. The angel murders Isaacs’ love, Gena, after escaping. Priest follows Ivan Isaacs’ quest for revenge against the fallen angel, Temozarela, and his 12 angelic disciples, with assistance from Belial and others.
Source: Wikipedia
Petrucci clearly stated that In the Presence of Enemies was inspired by Priest. Not that Petrucci re-tell the story of Priest using In the Presence of Enemies. Basically, In the Presence of Enemies is about a person who first serves his master. But apparently he knows that it was wrong until he realizes and decides to go away and not serve his master again.
Does that ring a bell for you? To make it clearer here is the full lyric of the song:
PART 1"I. Prelude"(Instrumental)"II. Resurrection"I saw a white light
Shining there before me
Walking to it
I waited for the end
A final vision
Promising salvation
A resurrection
For a fallen manDo you still wait for your God
And the symbol of your faith?I can free you from this Hell and misery
You should never be ashamed, my son
I can give you power beyond anything
Trust me you will be the chosen oneI was forgotten
A body scorned and broken
My soul rejected
Tainted by his blood
Beyond redemption
A sinner not worth savingForever taken
From the one I lovedDo I still wait for my God
And a symbol of my faith?I can lead you down the path and back to life
All I ask is that you worship me
I can help you seek revenge and save yourself
Give you life for all eternityServants of the fallen
Fight to pave the way
For their saviour's calling
Of this wicked day
Through a veil of madness
With a vicious play
One man rises up
Standing in their wayRedemption
Redemption for humanityPART 2"III. Heretic"Welcome tired pilgrim
Into the circle
We have been waiting
Everyone's gathered for your arrival
All the believersAngels fall, all for you, heretic
Demon heart bleed for usI've been waiting for you,
Weary preacher man
You have been expected
Now we can begin
Let this hollow day of judgment reignI have known you father,
And your sacred quest
Blessed soldier fighting
You shall never rest
I have known you, but do you know me?Angels fall, all for you, heretic
Demon heart bleed for us(My soul is yours dark master, I will fight for you)
Dark master within,
I will fight for you
Dark master of sin,
Now my soul is yours
Dark master, my guide,
I will die for you
Dark master insideI cannot see his face
But I could feel his spite
A presence from the dead
Abandoned by the light
This shadow will consume him from withinThis power that I sense
The rage behind those eyes
Is just a shrouded ghost
A spirit deep inside
The body and the soul both threats
For they are oneAngels fall, all for you, heretic
Demon heart bleed for usMy soul is yours dark master,
I will fight for youDark master within,
I will fight for you
Dark master of sin,
Now my soul is yours
Dark master, my guide,
I will die for you
Dark master inside
Dark master, Amen,
I belong to you
Dark master within"IV. The Slaughter of the Damned"Don't,
Bother trying to find them
They will be coming to you
Fight,
Fight and destroy
Until you can't take anymoreSlay!
Spill the blood of the rebels
They are the children of hell
Flesh,
Of the undead
Stopping at nothing to killSin,
Caught in a moment of weakness
Committed the greatness of all
Sold,
Half of my soul
And now its too late for youI judge us, my eyes see
I judge and I am just
For I speak of the beast
That lives in all of usUnwelcome ones
Your time has comeLord,
You are my god and my shepherd
Nothing more shall I want
Walk,
Through the abyss
Into the shadow of deathFear,
There is no evil to fear now
For I know you are with me
My,
Cup overflows
With my enemy's bloodI,
Decay in the house of the lord
Forever, amen
Death,
Will follow me
All the days of my lifeI judge as,
My eyes see
I judge and I am just
For I speak of the beast
That lives in all of usUnwelcome ones
Your time has comeServants of the fallen
Fight to pave the way
For the savior's calling
On this wicked dayThrough a veil of madness
With a vicious play
One man rises up
Standing in their way
It's time for your reckoning"V. The Reckoning"(Instrumental)"VI. Salvation"My soul grows weaker
He knows and he waits
He watches over me
Standing at the inferno gates
In the hour of darkness
The moment I feared has passed
The moment I lost my faith
Promising salvation
My soul is my own now
I do not fight for you,
Dark master
It’s long, isn’t it? Remember, this song has 2 parts. And Dream Theater plays those 2 parts straight in their live concert, and the total duration for this song is up to +-26 minutes.
Let’s start to the analysis and read this first part;
I saw a white light
Shining there before me
Walking to it
I waited for the end
A final vision
Promising salvation
A resurrection
For a fallen manBy those sentences, the man is depicted as a man who seeks salvation, resurrection, and power. It can refer to Snape, since he was a bullied person at school and then chose to befriend some fellow Death Eaters, including Avery, Mulciber, Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Evan Rosier, and Wilkes. Thinking that if he was doing that, he would become more powerful, and could retaliate what James and Sirius had done to him.
Do you still wait for your God
And the symbol of your faith?I can free you from this Hell and misery
You should never be ashamed, my son
I can give you power beyond anything
Trust me you will be the chosen one
At the first Wizarding War, it would make any sense that he was persuaded by Voldermort to become his loyal servant so he would get power like what he had always wanted. Furthermore, Snape able to gained Voldemort trusts. He quickly became an important Death Eater in Voldemort’s inner circle. He was the spy responsible for informing Voldemort about the prophecy foretelling his downfall. (Source).
I was forgotten
A body scorned and broken
My soul rejected
Tainted by his blood
Beyond redemption
A sinner not worth savingForever taken
From the one I loved
That section could tell us about this event; In early 1980, Snape eavesdropped a prophecy conversation between Albus Dumbledore and Sybill Trelawney. He heard that a child born at the end of July will destroy Voldemort. Snape then reported it to his master. Even though it wasn’t clear whether it was Neville Longbottom or Harry potter. He was alone and misguided in the dark, full of remorse and resentment when Voldemort decided that Harry Potter was the subject of the prophecy and that her lover, Lily Evans, was now in danger as a result of his actions (Source)
Do I still wait for my God
And a symbol of my faith?I can lead you down the path and back to life
All I ask is that you worship me
I can help you seek revenge and save yourself
Give you life for all eternity
Feared of what would happen to Lily, Snape also came to Dumbledore, asked him to save Lily and Harry, and James if it’s necessary. Dumbledore agreed. But he asked Snape to still at Voldemort’s side as a spy in return.
Suddenly Snape was stabbed straight to his heart. That big history was happening. Voldemort came to James and Lily’s house. Killing both of them and only lost the battle with Harry. After Lily’s death, Snape was devastated and distraught to the point of wishing himself dead.
Dumbledore then asked Snape to protect Harry, but he insisted Dumbledore that Voldemort has already gone so Harry would be safe. Dumbledore assured him that Voldemort would return, and when he has already returned, Harry and everyone would be in real danger.
The second stanza itself could refer to Dumbledore asked Snape to trust him and do whatever he said.
Servants of the fallen
Fight to pave the way
For their saviour's calling
Of this wicked day
Through a veil of madness
With a vicious play
One man rises up
Standing in their wayRedemption
Redemption for humanity
That section leads us to the scene where Harry accidentally destroyed Voldemort. Especially in those 2 sentences, “One man rises up, standing in their way.” And the phrase “Servants of the fallen” could refer to Voldemort who continued Salazar Slytherin’s desire to wipe out muggle-born and half-blood wizards and witches.
While the phrase “Redemption for humanity” loosely has the closest meaning to “Wizarding World, for now, is safe.”
Welcome tired pilgrim
Into the circle
We have been waiting
Everyone's gathered for your arrival
All the believersAngels fall, all for you, heretic
Demon heart bleed for usI've been waiting for you,
Weary preacher man
You have been expected
Now we can begin
Let this hollow day of judgment reign
Now let’s jump to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Particularly a long jump to the cemetery scene. That section — and more sections follow — will be more about Voldemort and Death Eaters.
The phrases “Welcome tired pilgrim” here could refer to Voldemort as being a leader of a belief who had already wander around to regain his power until he finally could re-establish his beliefs.
After Voldemort finally came back to his physical body, he then called his servants. And when they had come, Voldemort stood in the middle of their circle and they welcomed their master with fear.
Perhaps by reading the third stanza and interpret it loosely, you guys will remember that scene where Voldemort was upset because there was no one tried to find him and believed that he had already died. Or it could refer to the Death Eaters who had waited for him for so long, and when Voldemort had already there, they were enthusiastic because they could continue their actions.
I have known you father,
And your sacred quest
Blessed soldier fighting
You shall never rest
I have known you, but do you know me?Remember when Voldemort touched Cedric’s dead body using his foot? After that Harry screamed, “Don’t touch him!” Which followed by Voldemort realized that Harry was there, tied on top of his father’s grave. The sentence “I have known you, but do you know me?” indicates the scene where Voldemort greeted Harry and told him what had he done to him.
Angels fall, all for you, heretic
Demon heart bleed for us
(My soul is yours dark master, I will fight for you)
Dark master within,
I will fight for you
Dark master of sin,
Now my soul is yours
Dark master, my guide,
I will die for you
Dark master inside
I cannot see his face
But I could feel his spite
A presence from the dead
Abandoned by the light
This shadow will consume him from within
This power that I sense
The rage behind those eyes
Is just a shrouded ghost
A spirit deep inside
The body and the soul both threats
For they are one
Angels fall, all for you, heretic
Demon heart bleed for us
My soul is yours dark master,
I will fight for you
Dark master within,
I will fight for you
Dark master of sin,
Now my soul is yours
Dark master, my guide,
I will die for you
Dark master inside
Dark master, Amen,
I belong to you
Dark master withinDon't,
Bother trying to find them
They will be coming to you
Fight,
Fight and destroy
Until you can't take anymore
Slay!
Spill the blood of the rebels
They are the children of hell
Flesh,
Of the undead
Stopping at nothing to kill
Sin,
Caught in a moment of weakness
Committed the greatness of all
Sold,
Half of my soul
And now its too late for you
I judge us, my eyes see
I judge and I am just
For I speak of the beast
That lives in all of us
Unwelcome ones
Your time has come
Lord,
You are my god and my shepherd
Nothing more shall I want
Walk,
Through the abyss
Into the shadow of death
Fear,
There is no evil to fear now
For I know you are with me
My,
Cup overflows
With my enemy's blood
I,
Decay in the house of the lord
Forever, amen
Death,
Will follow me
All the days of my life
I judge as,
My eyes see
I judge and I am just
For I speak of the beast
That lives in all of us
I mean, come on, those lyrics would be perfect as Death Eaters’ theme song. With the fact that no one is feared by Death Eaters except their master, Lord Voldemort. And how they were willing to do anything for him, not to mention how they were willing to die for him.
Don't,
Bother trying to find them
They will be coming to youThat section shows us that Voldemort and his servants reminded the Wizarding World to not bother to find and destroy them. Because they would come to the Wizarding World and tried to stand on a top of a hill.
Fear,
There is no evil to fear now
For I know you are with me
My,
Cup overflows
With my enemy's bloodNow we have arrived at Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The word “Evil” refers to Dumbledore, while “you” from “For I know you are with me” refers to the Elder Wand.
One of Voldemort's plans had already been done. He got Draco to kill Dumbledore — which then was done by Snape, and ruled Hogwarts. The only wizard who was feared by Voldemort was finally gone. There was nothing Voldemort had to afraid of. Even more so, he broke Dumbledore’s tomb and stole his Elder Wand.
Unwelcome ones
Your time has come
Servants of the fallen
Fight to pave the way
For the savior's calling
On this wicked day
Through a veil of madness
With a vicious play
One man rises up
Standing in their way
It's time for your reckoningFinally, Voldemort and his servants arrived at Hogwarts. They were ready to destroying Hogwarts and held recruitment for those who wanted to join him. It is a common fact that Voldemort was referred to an “Unwelcome ones” by every people in Wizarding World who stand at the right side, especially by every Hogwarts permanent resident.
And once again, Harry Potter was there to stop Voldemort. He was ready to destroy him once again and stopped him to do anything bad forever. Moreover, an act of revenge from what Voldemort had done to his parents, god-father, and the entire Wizarding World.
My soul grows weaker
He knows and he waits
He watches over me
Standing at the inferno gates
In the hour of darkness
The moment I feared has passed
The moment I lost my faith
Promising salvation
My soul is my own now
I do not fight for you,
Dark masterNow we are back to our lovely Severus Snape, to the scene where he was killed by Voldemort.
Snape regretfully realized that what Voldemort had told him was nothing, particularly after Voldemort killed his lover, Lily.
At the and of the franchise, we are given enlightenment, that actually Snape isn’t the bad guy at all. He had been acting as Voldemort’s servant, only for trying to destroy him. And little did Voldemort know, that Snape was acting that way, in a moment where he was willing to give his soul, was only for avenged what he had done to Lily.
Snape didn’t fight for Voldemort, he fought for Lily.
I would say if John Petrucci got the inspiration from Harry Potter, it would be more interesting (for me). As I am a fan of Dream Theater and a fan of Harry Potter. I’ve always been asking myself this question: Do John Petrucci and other Dream Theater’s members ever realize that this song’s storyline is almost similar to Snape, Voldemort, and Death Eater’s storyline? Well, hopefully, I can get the answer soon.
And that is the end of my analysis. I should say that all of my analysis above is loosely interpreted.
So, what do you think? Do you have any idea, comment, or suggestion regarding my little analysis here?
