Deep down in his heart, he had hoped that maybe the Dursleys would care about him. That there was maybe a small fragment of love for him in their bitter souls, that they might have even a tiny glimmer of love for him because— he was still family, right?
Even if they kept him caged like a prisoner, even if they treated him like a slave. They were family, they were the only ones he had. Because what was he if not alone otherwise? Because wouldn't that mean he was unlovable? That he didn't deserve love?
Harry dreamed of Aunt Petunia, one day, just smiling lovingly at him, caring and soothing his wounds like he watched other kids in the playground be soothed by their mothers.
He dreamed of Uncle Vernon not hitting him, of not cursing his existence but instead telling him how proud he was, that Harry was worthy of love. In his fantasies, Uncle Vernon would take Dudley and him fishing, teaching them how to catch fish like he'd seen in the telly, secretly glancing from a corner while doing the chores Aunt Petunia assigned him.
He dreamed of Dudley being a caring older brother to him. Protecting him from all the bullying instead he found himself with Dudley being the biggest bully of them all.
He dreamed of so many things while waiting for the Dursleys to come back for him. Yet, they had forgotten him and discarded him like old worn out shoes that nobody wanted because they were broken, they weren't loveable—NOT even likeable.
The Dursleys would never care for him, care for how Harry barely could barely stand up, his limbs weak from having not eaten for days. Or how is lips were cracked, his throat dry from thirst.
The realization hit him, it should've already hit him a long time ago but hope was a fickle thing and Harry's heart broke. They would never love him, he would never be family and that is how he would die, in his tiny little cupboard under the stairs in little whinging.
Tear tracks would leave stains on his face, his frail body slowly rotting away for some time before the mail man would realize something amiss. His body found and his existence only cared and acknowledged for after death. But it was too late, gone was the boy who just wanted to be loved by his family.