In ancient Greek mythology, there was a vast labyrinth on Crete, inhabited by a Minotaur. The Greeks regularly sent young men and women into the labyrinth for it to devour.
There was another legend: while Zeus wandered the mortal world, he fell for a princess named Europa. One day, Zeus saw the princess playing with her handmaidens, so he had his son Hermes tend the cattle while he transformed into a white bull and mingled with the herd, drawing near her. Curious and unaware of the truth, the princess approached the beautiful bull. The bull then carried her straight to the sea and brought her to Crete. The princess bore Zeus three sons, one of whom became the king of Crete.
"What do you think, Barty?" Albus asked Barty Crouch, head of the Ministry of Magic's Department of International Magical Cooperation, after hearing her proposal.
Barty Crouch seemed to have fallen into deep thought.
Placing the trophy at the center of the maze and having the contestants retrieve it would render the award ceremony meaningless. The "important figures" hoping to leave their names in history through that ceremony would be terribly disappointed.
Yet the children liked her design very much. Their faces glowed with excitement as they discussed it.
"The third task will not be held until next year. It is too early to discuss it now," Crouch said. "I must remind you all that once you sign this agreement, you must never reveal anything you know to the contestants or anyone connected to them. Otherwise, you will face severe punishment. Likewise, signing the agreement means forfeiting your chance to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. Is that clear?"
No one answered. This was already the third time Crouch had repeated himself, but only one person had left. Everyone else had