Perhaps in the fanfiction, Harry grows up alone because the Dursleys manage to keep him even more cut off from the outside world. He could start to believe that he is truly alone in his magical abilities. As a result, when he discovers Hogwarts, he is extremely distrustful at first and has to learn to trust others, like Hagrid and Ron, all over again. This would create a lot of tension and interesting character development.
One possible storyline could be that Harry grows up in isolation in the cupboard under the stairs, with no real interaction with other wizards or even muggles his age. He might develop his magic skills in secret, and when he finally enters the wizarding world, he has a very different perspective compared to the original story.
One possible storyline could be Harry struggling with PTSD from the war. He might isolate himself in Grimmauld Place, haunted by the memories of those he lost. Another could be him trying to find a new purpose in life, perhaps traveling the wizarding world alone to discover forgotten magic. Or he could be dealing with the public's perception of him as the 'Chosen One' and feeling the pressure to always be strong and heroic.
Another storyline could be that Harry is alone as he tries to break a curse that has been placed on him during the Goblet of Fire events. The curse is making him see things that aren't there and is slowly draining his magic. Since he doesn't know who to trust, he tries to find a cure by himself. He travels to different parts of Hogwarts and even outside the school grounds in search of answers, all while feeling the loneliness of being on his own.
Hermione could still play a major role. She might be the first person to reach out to Harry when he finally enters the wizarding world. Since Harry grew up alone, he would be very different, and Hermione's inquisitive and helpful nature would be drawn to him. She could help him catch up on all the things he missed out on growing up alone.
One possible storyline could be Harry feeling isolated and betrayed by his friends at Hogwarts. He might decide to go off on his own adventures, exploring parts of the wizarding world that are less known, like some hidden magical forests or ancient ruins.
In this fanfiction, Harry could be alone because he feels estranged from his friends who have moved on with their lives in different ways. So he takes on a solitary mission to protect the wizarding world in the shadows. He becomes a sort of unseen guardian, constantly thwarting small threats that could potentially grow into big problems, all while dealing with his own loneliness and the memories of the war.
One possible storyline could be Harry's struggle to prove his innocence while in Azkaban. Maybe he discovers some dark secrets within the prison walls that are related to a larger threat to the wizarding world. Another could be his attempts to escape and the friends he makes or enemies he encounters during the process.
In fanfiction where Harry Potter grew up in Japan, his appearance could be different too. He might be dressed in traditional Japanese wizard robes. His magic could be influenced by Japanese magic traditions. He would probably learn different spells that are unique to Japanese wizardry. Also, his friends would likely be of different ethnic backgrounds, and they would celebrate Japanese magical festivals together.
The story could be that Harry grows up alone in the Muggle world, completely unaware of his wizarding heritage until much later. He might face bullying and isolation in the Muggle school. When he discovers his true identity, he has to quickly adapt to the wizarding world all by himself. This could lead to him making some hasty and unwise decisions as he has no one to guide him.
One possible storyline could be that a powerful magic spell is cast on Harry by a dark wizard who wants to disrupt the wizarding world. This spell forces him to experience a transformation in his gender identity. Harry then has to struggle with not only his new identity but also how the people around him, like his friends Ron and Hermione, react to this sudden change.
One storyline could be that the mute child discovers they have a special power related to their muteness. Maybe they can silently communicate with ancient magic artifacts that no one else can. Another storyline could be that they are wrongly accused of a crime because they can't defend themselves verbally. Then they have to find a way to prove their innocence through their actions and non - verbal magic. A third storyline could be that they befriend a house - elf who also uses non - verbal communication, and together they uncover a secret plot within Hogwarts.