The Nundu is a giant mammal similar to a leopard that is native to East Africa. It moves silently, despite its "gigantic" size, and is considered by some to be the most dangerous creature alive. The breath of the Nundu is toxic and filled with disease. This alone can wipe out entire villages of people. The Nundu is extremely hard to subdue, and has never been defeated by less than around one hundred wizards working together.
Draco woke up cold, wet, and Merlin, he's going to die isn't he.
A groping hand reaches out for his, and he allows it once he remembers that the thing threatening their lives had paws rather than skinny, hairless fingers. Then he remembers who he was with before he blacked out and groans, despite how undignified it is. He grabs the hand in the universal "I'm alive, but not kicking" gesture and opens his eyes.
It's not only cold and wet, but pitchblack too.
"Draco?" The body of the hand asks, and it is Harry grabbing onto him, which is better than if the other two were there touching, "You awake?"
"I blame Weasley for this." Draco groaned, blinking and finding that his wand was still secure, muttering Latin until his eyes adjusted to the light. Way more affective than that stupid first-year Lumos, "Where's our attacker?"
"Right here." Draco does a doubletake and sees that the nundu is hovering over Harry, "Did you know nundus are telepathic?"
The nundu is nuzzling Harry and... purring? He can hear the magic coming off of the creature, and it rolls out of it in waves, lulling him back to sleep before he fights the drowsiness.
"Apparently so." He says dryly, because wizards were too busy being terrorized by them rather than having a bit of a mindchat with the animal.
"She just wanted to stop in for a visit."
"Just stopped for a cuppa, did she?" Draco is on the verge of hysterical.
Harry nods, "She wanted to see what all the fuss was about."
"So she dragged us to..?"
"The Chamber."
"The what?"
"Of Secrets."
"I know what you're bloody talking about, I'm asking how the bloody hell we got here and why the bloody hell a nundu is nuzzling your bloody shoulder!"
"Oh. Well, you weren't very clear on that at all."
"And you haven't answered my questions yet." He nods sharply at the giant menacing creature nuzzling Harry's shoulder.
"He heard about me, apparently, and wanted to see me."
"And your Wonder Twins?"
"'Mione is making Ron help her get Basilisk samples. I decided to stay back and wait until you woke up."
"Basilisk? You mean those rumors were true?"
"Except the bit about me being an illegal animagus and clawing the Basilisk's eyes out myself."
"How did you really get out then?"
"Dumbledore's Pheonix flew down with the Sorting Hat that gave me the sword of Gryffindor, and then we all hung onto Fawkes as it flew us out."
"Yeah, and the rumors were so far-fetched." He says, on the verge of a panic attack. "And why is the nundu interested in a wizard?"
"Apparently Potters used to be some magic Panther-types or something. Distant cousins, before we decided to go human. Hermione says this changes everything about wizarding history, but..." He shrugs.
"Right. Panther-people. The Potters."
"She says she's been holding her breath long enough," Harry warns before laughing, "If I haven't managed it already," Harry sends Draco a wry grin, "I think it's safe to say that with this bit, I've officially jumped the shark."
"You've jumped the what now?"
Draco wakes up in the hospital wing.