Yes. I think this scene is where Fudge really demonstrates that he has taken the turn from merely inept to scary bad guy. He did it before, but we've only ever seen him as a generally likable guy, even when he does dumb things. This is an "Oh Crap" moment. I loved that Dumbledore anticipated this and showed up and cheerfully and politely puts him back in his place.

I also highly doubt that she can see them. I think Harry's thought process is supposed to tell us that she couldn't see them. I don't mind her lying about that bit, because the trial was being railroaded and she clearly knew there were Dementors there even if she couldn't see them. If she had admitted to not being able to see them Fudge would have jumped all over it to try to discredit the validity of her statement.

I hate that woman. I want to reach through the pages and hit her. I still remember how she made me feel when I first read the book. I had such a visceral reaction to her I stayed up all night to finish the book just so she would be gone. I went to work the next day on two hours sleep, but I just needed her gone. She is an incredibly well done character, I don't remember ever having such a strong reaction to a character.

Ron has just as much of a temper as Harry does, and Harry at least knows he's being unreasonable even if he does nothing to stop it. Ron abuses his power as a prefect far more than I think Harry would. Having said that, I think it was wonderful of Dumbledore to make Ron a prefect. I think Ron needed that boost of at least in this one thing not being overshadowed by anyone. Of course he's not the first in his family to make prefect, but he's the first one to make prefect over the famous Harry Potter. The negative of this is of course that Harry is further distanced from his friends and from Dumbledore. I'm sure that was part of Dumbledore's plan as well, a way to further distance himself from Harry to prevent the temptation for Voldemort.