Emeric Belasco

**Emeric Belasco**, also known as **Emeric the Evil**, was a 14th century Bavarian wizard, who is mainly remembered as the creator of lycanthropy.

## Biography

### Early Life

Emeric was born in Bavaria in the early 14th century, and in 1340 he began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the only magical school in Europe at the time, where he was sorted into Gryffindor. He would later claim that it was his Gryffindor nature that gave him the courage to defy all mundane standards of decency and morality.

Emeric was a natural animagus, which was more common in Europe in the 14th century, and gave him the ability to transform into a small dog-like creature. After his graduation Emeric began studying all aspects of animagery, most likely in an attempt to turn his alternate form into something more fierce. His research eventually went down a darker path, and led to his most infamous creation.

Similair to Lady Echidna in the 1920's, Emeric wished to create a powerful army bound to his will, which led to his creation of the Lycanthropic Curse sometime around 1357. This Curse causes the affected, whether Wizard or Muggle, to transform into a ravenous bloodthirsty beast during the full moon. Emeric's creation was flawed however, as despite his blood granting him some limited control over his werewolves they were still little more than mindless predators, who preferred to kill even when Emeric would rather leave their prey alive to add to his army. Despite this, Emeric's armies still managed to do great damage as they ravaged their way across Britain, and some Wizarding communities sanctioned the use of the Killing Curse against werewolves.

At some point during his reign of terror Emeric raised the island of Azkaban from the seabed, building a tall tower there for some unknown purpose.

Emeric was eventually caught by the British Wizarding authorities and executed by being sent through the Veil of Death. Among Emeric's final words before his death were the infamous: "There is no good or evil. There is only power, and those too weak to understand it." This is also sometimes quoted as "There is no good or evil. There is only power, and those too weak to seek it.", which is said to be his motto.

### Legacy

Emeric was remembered as the worst dark wizard who ever attended Hogwarts, as is documented in the book **The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts,** though it should be noted the writers of this book were most likely unaware of Voldemort's time at Hogwarts.

The island of Azkaban, undiscovered by his foes, would fall into the hands of his apprentice Ekrisdis, who performed foul experiments on captured sailors for nearly a century before dying of old age. His protective charms remained in place for nearly twenty years and making the island visible for the first time in it's history, leaving it to be discovered by Muggle sailors in 1443. The island was hidden from view once more by wizards, until the International Statute of Secrecy of 1692 brought with it a sudden need for a Wizarding prison. In 1718, Minister Damocles Rowle forged the Treaty of Azkaban with it's native dementor population, turning Emeric's tower into a prison for Wizarding Britain's criminals.

Emeric was survived by his daughter Lucretia, who fled the country after his capture and made her way to his ancestral Bavaria under a false name, taking with her a great deal of Emeric's wealth and dark artifacts. Lucretia married into the Kleinwuchs family, which under the rule of Lucretia and her descendants grew into one of the most powerful Magical families of Europe. The Kleinwuchs family was supposedly wiped out in the Bombing of Dresden, but in truth it's last two members, Gustav and Martin, had made their way to Britain with the aid of the Department of Mysteries, changing their names to George and Martin Pettigrew. Martin would eventually marry Edwina Gamp and have a son named Peter Pettigrew, who inherited Emeric's control over werewolves, and would become one of Harry Black's most dangerous adversaries.

## Personality & Traits

Emeric was completely devoid of morals, and in took pride in that. He cared little for his fellow humans, inflicting hundreds of innocents with the Lycanthropic Curse.

## Magical Abilities & Skills

Emeric was greatly skilled at the creation of curses, as can be seen by his creation of Lycanthropy, which he succesfully bound to his bloodline

## Behind the Scenes

Emeric's last name is derived from the character Emeric Belasco, played by Michael Gough in the 1973 horror movie *The Legend of Hell House,* which is one of TSM's favorite 70's horror movies. He also shares his name with the demon Belasco from Marvel Comics.

In real life the name Belasco (or Velasco) is of Basque origin and possibly means "Little Raven". The name is not meant to imply any connection to Salazar Slytherin, whose first name is also of Basque origin.

## Canon Divergence

In canon Emeric the Evil is only mentioned as a previous master of the Elder Wand, who terrorised southern England in the early Middle Ages and was slain by Egbert the Egregious.

In POS, Emeric's duel with Egbert is removed, and all other details about him, such as his connection to lycanthropy and Azkaban, and his various descendants, were added by TSM.

## References

Book 3 - HP&DEM - Ch. 105 - Chaos in Hogsmeade (Finale),

From The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts by Arsenius Jigger (p. 394).
Book 1 - HP&PoS - Ch. 5 - Introductions on a Train,

Harry lectures Ron on dark wizards.
Book 2 - HP&TSE - Ch. 57 - The Boggart (Pt 2),

Lockhart gives a lecture on werevolves.
Book 3 - HP&DEM - Ch. 89 - Azkaban,

A brief history of Azkaban is given.
Book 3 - HP&DEM - Ch. 123 - The Hunting of Sirius Black (Pt 2),

Peter Pettigrew reveals his true ancestry.
Book 1 - HP&PoS - Ch. 30 - Final Exam (Pt 2),

Harry stalls for time by talking to Voldemort..
Book 3 - HP&DEM - Ch. 123 - The Hunting of Sirius Black (Pt 2),

"Power," Harry interrupted in a bored tone. "Power and those too weak to seek it.".