Harry's protection at the Dursleys' - how long must he stay?

[fuzz876i]

No: HPFGUIDX 146812

<snip>
Jen: 
> I was writing about the protection, whether Harry needs to stay 
> until his birthday for the protection to continue. From what 
> Dumbledore said (quoted above) and the fact Harry left Privet 
> Dr. after two weeks in HBP, it doesn't seem there's a set length 
> of time he must stay for the protection to be activated. The 
> activation trigger seems to be Petunia--will she allow him 
> houseroom one more time? <snip>
> 
> tropicwhale:
> > I guess he'll be picked up by Ron and Hermione his 17 birthday
> > to start searching for the horcruxes, after Fleur and Bill's 
> > wedding, of course.
> 
> Jen: Ron said they'll be going with Harry to Privet Dr. That 
> could change, but I'm hoping to see the Dursleys dealing with 
> two extra magical people in the house. <snip>

fuzz876i:
Whether he has to stay until he is 17 or not is not the issue -- 
the issue is the protection.  By allowing Harry to return once 
more seals the protection that was set when he was a year old he 
is protected by his mother's blood which is now only in him and 
his Aunt Petunia. In my opinion he only has to be ther a short 
while for this protction to be in affect.  

As for Ron and Hermione staying with Harry at Privet Drive they 
both know some pretty good spells and are of legal age so they can 
do some damage to Uncle Vernon if he does not allow them to stay.  
So therefore by going back just once more to seal the protection 
he is able to enter manhood in the wizarding world without the 
degredation of the Dursleys.  That raises another question will 
the Dursleys even let him leave?