Harlequin (Empath stories)

Harlequin is a character that is part of the EMPATH: The Luckiest Smurf story series. He is the wizard that Hogatha the witch has an attraction for, as evident in the cartoon show episode "Hogatha's Heartthrob". Her first attempt to meet the famous sorcerer in person resulted in an encounter with Gargamel, who claimed that Harlequin was an old friend of his and that he could introduce him to Hogatha in exchange for what she claimed was a magic whistle that could attract Smurfs from miles around. After the deal was made, Gargamel went home and disguised himself as Harlequin so that he could get his hands on the magic whistle, while futilely trying to avoid her romantic advances. However, in his escape with the whistle after they kissed, Gargamel left his fake beard on Hogatha's face and thus she realized that the evil wizard had fooled her. Fortunately, the magic whistle turned out to be nothing but Hogatha's bird call, for when Gargamel used the whistle, it not only brought Feathers the crane with the Smurfs riding her, but it also brought a flock of other birds, including Hogatha's pet vulture Harold whom she was riding on.

In the EMPATH story series, Hogatha got in touch with the real Harlequin through the "mirror net" and invited her to attend the Wizard's Ball where they could meet in person. Realizing that she could not appear at the ball in her normal appearance, Hogatha used a spell that drained Smurfette of her youth and beauty, causing the old witch to appear young and beautiful. Harlequin met Hogatha at the ball in her new appearance and was so captured by her beauty that he went home with her to spend a romantic evening together. However, when Empath had countered the spell that was draining Smurfette's youth and beauty from her, Hogatha reverted to her original appearance, and Harlequin realized that he was deceived. Before departing, though, Harlequin revealed that the beard he usually wore was actually fake because he was uncertain of his normal appearance among his fellow wizards and witches.