Hazel

Hazel was born and raised in poverty. His mother did everything should could to put bread on the table, but times were always hard. Hazel never complained, though- he never had the privileges most children took for granted, but he always found something to be grateful for. When he wasn't helping his mother around the house, he liked to venture into the forest and have adventures with the friendly creatures; one might as well say he grew up with them.
It was not until Hazel one day found himself blessed with magic that the future began to seem less brighter. The local church began to send donations to his family to lift them out of the poor life conditions. Hazel, who could never afford to get any proper schooling, was suddenly sent to be educated at one of the finest Boys' Academies for Magical Children, all expenses paid. He could finally have a normal life, perhaps even make friends, and his mother cried tears of joy and showered Hazel with kisses. While Hazel thanked God for the opportunity, he could not help but wonder why now, and not earlier? In the back of his mind, he found it just a bit odd and unfair that only when he had become blessed did the church reach out to help his family. For this reason, Hazel cannot find it in himself to be truly devoted like most of his magical peers.
Hazel is like the boy next door; he is willing to take the extra step in making sure those around him are helped. He is motherly and a natural mediator, able to tame the grizzliest of bears and the most temperamental of people. He is always looking out for his friends and loved ones; he takes the liberty of cooking meals, and even packing lunches for his dorm mate(s), which he puts great care into. And, indeed, he looks excellent in an apron. Unfortunately, despite caring very much for the living beings surrounding him, Hazel sometimes neglects his own interests. He may go out of his way to avoid/reject relationships with people if he feels his economic class would make the other be judged, even if he does wish to be an associate in truth. In addition, Hazel fears being a burden to anyone, and ends up hiding any emotional turmoil aside from confiding in close friends when in need of advice- and even that is a rare occurrence. To heal himself, Hazel will instead turn to transforming into a bird or surrounding himself with nature to take his mind off the matter.

Hazel always had an affinity for things with souls- specifically animals. It is not uncommon to find him being followed home by several cats, or approached by docile creatures while eating lunch on a bench. It makes sense that his magic involves transforming into the last animal he came into contact with, taking on its bodily appearance and abilities while both souls and minds are synchronised. The spirit of the creature is captured in his dream-catcher-like wand, along with the matter of his human body. The transformation lasts only for a certain amount of time, depending on the bond he has with the animal. It should also be noted that the more intelligent and/or aggressive the creature, the more difficult it will be to 'fuse' with it. There is a small chance that Hazel may fail entirely to get the animal which he transforms into to co-exist with his own conscious, and he may actually 'be absorbed' and essentially die.
While Hazel is able to transform into any non-human being that he touches, he is always accompanied by Felix, his fox companion. The bond he has with Felix is stronger than he can hope to achieve with any other creature, and thus, the fox is his most-used and longest transformation.